{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Democrat\", state = \"NY\" and year = 2022 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gillibrand-announce-1000000-for-akwesasne-boys-and-girls-club-to-support-mohawk-youth", "SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE $1,000,000 FOR AKWESASNE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB TO SUPPORT MOHAWK YOUTH", "2022-12-28", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand are announcing that they secured $1,000,000 for the Boys & Girls Club in Akwesasne for children of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe in the FY2023 spending bill. The Boys & Girls Club of America provides safe community gathering centers nationwide and empowers young students with educational programs designed to help them succeed in school. The federal dollars Gillibrand and Schumer fought for will help construct a new \u201cGreat Futures Start Here\u201d Clubhouse in Akwesasne to serve this purpose for Mohawk youth. The new Clubhouse will enable the Akwesasne Boys & Girls Club to continue offering its vital afterschool, summer, athletic, and meal programs in a safe, modern, and accessible space.\n\n\u201cInvesting in the youth of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe is investing in the future of the North Country, and I am proud to deliver this $1 million in funding to boost the community, its families, and most importantly the children of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cThese funds will help finally begin construction of the community gathering space the Akwesasne Boys & Girls Club has long deserved for afterschool and other essential youth programs. I will always fight to deliver meaningful, community driven investments to uplift the future of our children in Upstate New York.\u201d\n\n\u201cFostering a sense of community and support is vital to helping our youth get off on the right foot. The Boys & Girls Clubs of America has a proven track record of doing just that and preparing young people across New York State to achieve their full potential,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cThis $1,000,000 will kick-start the building of a safe and modern community center for Mohawk youth and provide them with the indispensable opportunities they deserve. The children of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe are essential to the fabric of our state and I am thrilled to announce this important investment in their education and in their future.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gillibrand-announce-more-than-7-million-for-clarkson-university-to-strengthen-health-care-workforce-resilience-and-green-energy-infrastructure-in-the-north-country", "SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $7 MILLION FOR CLARKSON UNIVERSITY TO STRENGTHEN HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE RESILIENCE AND GREEN ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE NORTH COUNTRY", "2022-12-27", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today revealed that they secured $7,030,000 for Clarkson University in the end-of-year spending package. More than $6 million of this significant federal investment will help the Potsdam campus expand programs and educational opportunities to train the next generation of health care professionals. Additionally, the senators secured nearly $900,000 for Clarkson University\u2019s Green Energy on Demand rapid transit research and development project.\n\n\u201cThis $7-plus million for Clarkson University is just what the doctor ordered to bolster healthcare in the North Country. As communities continue to recover from the pandemic, these federal dollars will help Clarkson expand its Health Sciences campus and train more local residents to enter good paying healthcare careers, bolstering the regions medical workforce, while strengthening other critical areas of research in green energy,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cThis funding means good paying jobs, innovation, and a healthier North Country. I am proud to deliver this $7 million shot in the arm to help train the next generation of healthcare workers and build a better future here in the North Country.\u201d\n\n\u201cNorth Country hospitals and frontline health care workers worked tirelessly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to keep our patients safe, and now we must repay their heroic efforts by supporting the next generation of health care workers,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cAs we continue to recover from the pandemic, these federal dollars will help build up our health care workforce and create a pipeline for public health jobs right here in the North Country. That\u2019s why I\u2019m so proud to have helped secure $7 million for Clarkson University \u2013 this federal funding will strengthen the resiliency of both our green energy and public health infrastructure, and give students the support they need to have a robust career as a health and medical provider.\u201d\n\n\u201cSenate Majority Leader Schumer and Senator Gillibrand are true champions for education and research that matters in the health professions,\u201d said Clarkson University President Marc P. Christensen, Ph.D., P.E.. \u201cClarkson and our Lewis School of Health Sciences are national leaders in the education of health professionals who can meet rural and distance-challenged healthcare needs. The support from the New York delegation for the renovation and expansion of our facilities will advance the career-readiness of these health professionals, improving healthcare outcomes for the North Country and other rural communities, as well as accelerate critical biotechnology and pharmaceutical research and innovation.\u201d\n\n$6,155,000 to Clarkson University for their Health Professions Training & Research Facilities Renovations and Expansion Project. This project will allow for the expansion and upgrade of Clarkson University's Lewis School of Health Sciences/Collins Hill Campus, which will produce additional health and medical providers that will significantly improve the struggling health care infrastructure in the North Country.\n\n$875,000 to Clarkson University for their Green Energy On Demand Rapid Transit R&D Project. This project will allow for research and exploration of the potential to advance on-demand transit using green energy to the next level by taking stronger, lighter, more modular rail cars and independently moving them on an elevated rail line with extreme efficiency and safety.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gillibrand-urge-president-biden-to-swiftly-approve-emergency-declaration-for-western-new-york-and-upstate-communities-impacted-by-deadly-holiday-weekend-blizzard", "SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND URGE PRESIDENT BIDEN TO SWIFTLY APPROVE EMERGENCY DECLARATION FOR WESTERN NEW YORK AND UPSTATE COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY DEADLY HOLIDAY WEEKEND BLIZZARD", "2022-12-26", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Senators Say Emergency Declaration Would Unlock Federal Funds for Impacted Counties Still Recovering From Double Blow Of Back To Back Winter Storms After The Record Breaking \u201cSnowvember\u201d Storm\n\nDeadly Blizzard Buried Buffalo And Upstate Communities In Nearly 4 Feet Of Snow, With More Still Coming, And Brutal Mix Of Frigid Temperatures And High Winds \u2013 Creating Impossible Road Conditions And Tragically Resulting In Over 20 New Yorkers Losing Their Lives\n\nSchumer, Gillibrand: Feds Must Provide Resources To Western NY And Upstate Communities To Begin To Recover\n\nU.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand urged President Biden to approve the Emergency declaration for New York communities impacted by the deadly holiday weekend blizzard still raging across Western New York and other communities across Upstate.\n\n\u201cThe holiday weekend blizzard is still raging through Buffalo and communities across New York, causing severe damage to infrastructure, power outages, and tragically the loss of life of life for at least 27 New Yorkers. This once in a generation blizzard has already brought nearly four feet of snow, hurricane force winds, and many are still without power,\u201d said the senators. \u201cWe are asking FEMA to promptly approve the Emergency declaration and urgently needed federal assistance for state and local governments. We need to get Western New York and other communities severely impacted by this deadly storm the resources they need to rebuild and recover.\u201d\n\nNew York State declared a State of Emergency for the entire State of New York in advance of a significant winter weather system forecast. Throughout the storm, tens of thousands were left without power over the holiday weekend in Western New York and across Upstate. The storm hit Buffalo especially hard with nearly 4 feet of snow and hurricane-force winds that reached 70 miles per hour causing whiteout conditions that made road conditions nearly impossible and halting emergency response efforts. Massive snowdrifts caused damage to critical energy infrastructure, leaving over 17,000 residents, mostly in the City of Buffalo, still without power. Tragically, there have been at least 27 reported deaths related to the storm in Upstate and Western New York, including one carbon monoxide fatality due to snowed in furnace vents.\n\nIf an Emergency declaration is declared, grant assistance would be made available to state and local governments, as well as certain non-profit organizations, to reimburse costs incurred for emergency work and the repair or replacement of damaged facilities. This funding is available on a cost-sharing basis; FEMA generally covers 75 percent of the eligible costs for permanent and emergency work. After any severe storm, the first step in the declaration process is for the state to request a Preliminary Damage Assessment, during which FEMA representatives join state, local, and other officials to survey damage across storm-impacted counties to help determine whether the cost of the disaster meets the criteria for a federal Major Disaster declaration. While that assessment is underway, New York State has just submitted an application for an Emergency declaration, which allows the State to seek reimbursement for emergency protective measures \u2013 like getting medical help to those in dire need. Schumer and Gillibrand urged FEMA to be prepared to support this Emergency declaration request, as well as any future Major Disaster declaration request, that will provide aid for New York State.\n\nThe Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act authorizes the president to issue \u201cMajor Disaster\u201d or \u201cEmergency\u201d declarations before or after catastrophes occur. The decision to issue a disaster declaration is at the discretion of the president, and must be requested by the governor of the state. These declarations unlock federal aid through FEMA that is broken into two broad areas: Individual Assistance (IA) that aids families and individuals, and Public Assistance (PA) that is mainly for emergency work such as debris removal and permanent repairs to infrastructure. When assessing the degree of PA damage, FEMA considers six factors: estimated cost of the assistance, localized impact, insurance coverage, hazard mitigation, recent disaster, and programs of other federal assistance. Regarding the cost, FEMA has certain thresholds that have to be met to qualify for PA specific to the state and the counties in question.\n\nA copy of Schumer and Gillibrand\u2019s letter appears below:\n\nDear President Biden,\n\nWe write to respectfully urge your swift consideration and authorization of Governor Hochul\u2019s request for an Emergency declaration for the State of New York in the wake of Winter Storm Elliott on Buffalo, Western New York, and across Upstate New York, following up on our two letters of support to the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) ahead of the worst of the storm. Such a declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (PL 100-707) would unlock crucial FEMA resources and assets that will aid the State, first responder, and community efforts to protect human life, property, and infrastructure.\n\nSince December 22 and over the holiday weekend, New Yorkers across the state have endured severe high winds gusting over 70 miles per hour, record levels of snowfall, and extreme cold \u2013 especially in the Buffalo metropolitan area, Western New York, and the North Country. More than 17,000 of our constituents remain without power as of noon on December 26, and nearly 27,000 were without electricity in Erie County on Christmas morning. The snow and winds led to whiteout conditions, blinding drivers and causing accidents, which have resulted in arterial roadways blocked by trapped vehicles. First responders and emergency workers are continue to face a myriad of challenges, including these blocked roads, as well as ongoing whiteout conditions, and severely damaged to infrastructure. Tragically, as of December 26, there have been at least 27 reported deaths related to the storm in New York. With snow continuing to fall, and intense cold lingering in the region, New Yorkers need federal help now.\n\nNew York State government and local first responders have fully committed their manpower and resources in response to Winter Storm Elliot, and we commend them for their bravery and heroic effort ensure public safety and save lives, many working continuously over the holiday weekend. However, because of white out conditions and the danger to our first responders some municipalities suspended emergency response efforts. For all of these reasons, Governor Hochul has requested a federal Emergency declaration for the areas of our state most deeply affected by this storm.\n\nAs families across New York wake up from the holiday weekend and look towards to beginning of the New Year, our first responders, search and rescue personnel, law enforcement, and state government employees will continue to work around the clock. We are grateful for the prompt attention that the federal government has historically give in responding to disasters impacting New York State. In that spirit, we strongly urge you to approve New York\u2019s request for FEMA assistance as affected communities begin their recovery from this storm.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://clarke.house.gov/clarke-votes-to-pass-fy23-omnibus-appropriations-bill-secures-17-8-million-in-funding-for-fifteen-community-projects/", "CLARKE VOTES TO PASS FY23 OMNIBUS APPROPRIATIONS BILL, SECURES $17.8 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR FIFTEEN COMMUNITY PROJECTS", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Yvette D. Clarke", "C001067", "clarke.house.gov", "clarke", "https://clarke.house.gov/category/press-release/", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:\n\nDecember 23, 2022\n\nMEDIA CONTACT:\n\ne: clarke.comms@mail.house.gov\n\nc: 347.387.5123\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014Today, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) voted in favor of the bipartisan $1.7 trillion fiscal year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill. The legislative package provides significant funding to numerous Clarke priorities, as well as contains $17,816,141 in funding for Community Projects championed by Congresswoman Clarke for New York\u2019s 9th Congressional District. The crucial funding for local projects included in the FY23 appropriations government funding responds directly to some of the most pressing needs throughout New York\u2019s 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn.\n\n\u201cTime and time again, the good people of Brooklyn have proven that, when they are provided the tools for success and the resources to reach it, they always will. I am proud to announce that fifteen community projects dear to me and invaluable to our community will receive significant funding for their continued growth and development with the passage of our FY23 appropriations bill. Brooklyn is a special family, and it is on an inexorable trajectory towards something bigger. I consider it the blessing and privilege of my career to fight to get it there,\u201d said Congresswoman Clarke.\n\nRep. Clarke championed funding for 15 projects that will directly benefit Brooklyn residents in New York\u2019s 9th Congressional District. These include:\n\n$1,250,000 for the Brooklyn Children\u2019s Museum \u2013 Upgrades to Interior Exhibit Spaces\u2019 HVAC System\n\n$2,200,000 for the Brownsville Community Development Corporation, Brooklyn, NY for facilities and equipment\n\n$3,000,000 for the Capital Improvements for CAMBA Headquarters\n\n$250,000 for the COJO Adult Education Classes\n\n$445,000 for the Construction of Community Food Pantry\n\n$750,000 for the Council of Peoples Organization \u2013 Community Service Center\n\n$450,000 for the EmblemHealth, Inc., New York, NY for mental health services, education, and other related activities\n\n$795,000 for the ENF Community Development and Housing Initiative Program\n\n$2,200,000 for the Kings County Hospital Center, Brooklyn, NY for facilities and equipment\n\n$2,200,000 for the New York Community Hospital, Brooklyn, NY for facilities and equipment\n\n$800,000 for the New York Sun Works, New York, NY for hydroponic STEM classrooms, including equipment\n\n$2,000,000 for the Ohel Children\u2019s Home and Family Services \u2013 Headquarters Expansion and Upgrade\n\n$750,000 for the Renovation of Cultural Center\n\n$191,160 for the Research Foundation of the City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY for a literacy program\n\n$534,981 for the Research Foundation of the City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY for a pre-law program\n\nThe government funding package that passed the House tonight will help Brooklyn families with the cost of living, create good-paying local jobs, support our most vulnerable communities, and provide crucial assistance to small businesses and restaurants that are key to our District\u2019s economic future. Taken together, the funding for New York\u2019s 9th District and the funding increases for critical government programs will reverse decades of disinvestment in our communities and strengthen our nation as a whole.\n\nThis legislation is expected to be signed into law by President Biden in the coming days.\n\n###\n\nYvette D. Clarke has been in Congress since 2007. She represents New York\u2019s Ninth Congressional District, which includes Central and South Brooklyn. Clarke is a Senior Member of both the House Energy and Commerce Committee and House Committee on Homeland Security, where she serves as Chair of the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation Subcommittee.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/meng-secures-millions-beneficial-to-the-aanhpi-community", "Meng Secures Millions Beneficial To The AANHPI Community", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Grace Meng", "M001188", "meng.house.gov", "meng", "https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), New York's senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, announced today that she helped secure millions for several projects and programs that are crucial to the AANHPI community.\n\n\"I am delighted to have directed millions of dollars in the Fiscal Year 2023 federal budget to strengthen and advance the interests of the AANHPI community across our country,\" said Congresswoman Meng, First Vice Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. \"Our priorities are reflected in what programs we are willing to spend our budget on. As the only Asian American member of the House Appropriations Committee, I consider it the highest honor to advocate for our AANHPI community throughout the appropriations process. The federal directives in this bill will go a long way to empowering and uplifting our community toward a brighter tomorrow. I extend my deepest gratitude to my colleagues for their support of these programs and I look forward to continuing the fight for AANHPI priorities in the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations cycle.\"\n\nThese critical projects and programs were included in the new government spending package for fiscal year 2023, which passed the House today after being approved by the Senate on Thursday. The legislation is now expected to be signed into law by President Biden. The items that Meng helped obtain include:\n\n$10 million for DOJ's Community-Based Approaches to Advancing Justice program, a $5 million increase from Fiscal Year 2022. Funds will be granted to community-based organizations engaging in conflict resolution, combatting hate crimes, and community empowerment. These groups can facilitate culturally educational classes and community services aimed at supporting communities of color and other vulnerable and historically disadvantaged communities.\n\nOver $2.5 million for the Smithsonian Institution's Asian Pacific Center and Asian Pacific Pool, a $40,000 increase from Fiscal Year 2022. Funds will be used to strengthen the Smithsonian's programming to commemorate Asian Pacific history and to continue the center's efforts to acquire new materials for its collection.\n\nOver $18.5 million to strengthen Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions, a $7,653,000 increase from Fiscal Year 2022. Funds may be used to support and expand services to Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander and low-come students that such institutions offer. The Department of Education administers this program.\n\n$1 million for the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Minority Health to research, develop, and test methods of informing limited English proficient individuals about the availability of language services. Funding would help researchers develop methods to ensure health services are available in non-English languages.\n\nA report on the creation of an Office of Translation Services in the U.S. Congress to assist Members of Congress in translating official materials, including necessary resource requirements to create such an office. Currently, Members of Congress rely on bilingual staff\u2014or even unpaid interns\u2014to translate government documents and resources into additional languages constituents may need. Creation of such an office would ensure all people\u2014regardless of English language proficiency\u2014would be able to access government information and resources.\n\nImprove language access at the Small Business Administration (SBA) by urging the agency to make online grant application forms available in at least the top 20 most commonly spoken languages based on the latest Census data. This is in response to the difficulty limited English proficient communities have had with accessing SBA relief programs, especially during COVID-19. Translating government documents into additional languages would minimize barriers to relief.\n\nStrategic planning for Hepatitis B vaccination and screening for all adults, and additional research on treatments and cures by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This comes in response to the 2021 Advisory Committee Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendation that all adults between 19 and 59 be vaccinated for hepatitis B.\n\nA report by NIH on research projects focused on the health and wellbeing of AANHPI communities, including specific racial and ethnic subgroups; the report will also document barriers to participation and language access issues. In the last decade, less than one percent of the NIH's total budget went to research centered on AANHPI health outcomes. This would help combat misleading narratives and conclusions drawn from the lack of available research.\n\nPrioritization of funding for disaggregation of AANHPI data at the Department of Education's Office of English Language Acquisition to support additional racial and ethnic subgroup data collection and reporting. This will help policymakers understand which subgroups may be struggling academically and may provide targeted opportunities for assistance.\n\nLanguage addressing bias in research security, specifically directing the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to coordinate and collaborate with the National Science Foundation (NSF) on its disclosure requirements to set a high bar for when cases should be referred from science agencies to the FBI. With NSF leading the way on disclosure requirements and helping researchers understand their responsibilities, coordination between NSF and the FBI will help combat bias against those of Asian American ancestry when it comes to research security.\n\nNSF research on addressing bias and xenophobia against AANHPI communities and an update on how the NSF plans to disseminate its studies and what additional funds it may need. In March of 2021, President Biden announced additional actions to combat anti-Asian hate which included NSF projects to understand the scope and severity of the issue. Meng's language requests an urgent update to understand what policymakers can do.\n\nSupport for the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, an initiative led by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to advance health, equity, and economic justice for AANHPI communities.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/meng-secures-over-213-million-for-local-projects-in-queens", "Meng Secures Over $21.3 Million For Local Projects In Queens", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Grace Meng", "M001188", "meng.house.gov", "meng", "https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens), New York's senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, announced today that she secured over $21.3 million for 15 critical projects throughout Queens.\n\nThis Community Project Funding is money that was included in the new government spending package which passed the House this afternoon after being approved by the Senate on Thursday. The legislation now heads to President Biden's desk and is expected to be signed into law.\n\n\"Queens deserves its fair share, and I'm thrilled to bring back more money for critical projects here in our borough,\" said Congresswoman Meng. \"I am especially pleased that I was able to secure more than double the amount of what I obtained last year. I am always honored and proud to fight for Queens and I'll never stop working to ensure that our communities have the resources they need. I look forward to this more than the $21.3 million benefiting Queens for many decades to come.\"\n\nMeng obtained a total of $21,317,066 for 15 projects, which meet many urgent needs in Queens. They include:\n\n$7 Million: Long Island Railroad (LIRR) Forest Hills station for the installation of new elevators, extending the platform length to accommodate more train cars (12 train cars), and several other station improvements.\n\n$2 Million: The City of New York's District 6 Open Restaurants Dining Kits for helping under-resourced restaurants acquire safe, compliant, and aesthetically pleasing outdoor dining setups. These include restaurants hardest hit during the COVID-19 pandemic in low-to-moderate-income neighborhoods in Queens.\n\n$2 Million: Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty (Met Council) to provide essential baby products as part of its food programs to Queens residents.\n\nOver $1.4 Million: Queens College for its Small Business Development Initiative to strengthen partnerships between local small businesses and the newly established Queens College School of Business.\n\n$1 Million: New York City Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst for the renovation of its Infectious Diseases Clinic.\n\n$1 Million: Queens Chamber of Commerce for its Small Business Legal Desk support program to support immigrant and small businesses in Queens.\n\n$1 Million: Long Island Jewish Forest Hills for the establishment of Robotic Assisted Orthopedic Surgery for hip and knee replacement procedures.\n\n$1 Million: Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty (Met Council) for ensuring its emergency food programs meets needs of food-insecure Queens residents.\n\n$1 Million: Commonpoint Queens for investing in unemployed and underemployed individuals to help them to gain skills and credentials to succeed in high-quality careers.\n\n$800,000: LIFE Camp, Inc. for Therapeutic Wellness services in Queens to help increase community safety, life expectancy, quality of life, and allowing for trauma informed care and practices.\n\n$750,000: 100 Suits for 100 Men for ensuring Queens neighborhoods receive resources and ongoing services as they recover from the coronavirus pandemic and allowing for a needs assessment post COVID-19.\n\n$750,000: Churches United for Fair Housing for supporting its housing related services that help tenants and those experiencing homelessness in Queens access safe and affordable housing.\n\n$750,000: Queens College Colden Auditorium for this largest indoor venue in Queens to be accessible, affordable, and a facility that meets the technical and production needs of performers.\n\n$551,210: DOROT (which serves older adults) for expanding its remote program in Queens.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://morelle.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-joe-morelle-votes-pass-bipartisan-funding-package-invests-our", "CONGRESSMAN JOE MORELLE VOTES TO PASS BIPARTISAN FUNDING PACKAGE THAT INVESTS IN OUR COMMUNITY", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Joseph D. Morelle", "M001206", "morelle.house.gov", "morelle", "https://morelle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Image\n\nDecember 23, 2022\n\nLegislation includes key investments in Monroe County programs and organizations while taking steps to improve community safety, uplift families, strengthen our economy, and bolster our national security\n\n(Washington, DC) \u2013 Today, Congressman Joe Morelle voted to enact a comprehensive appropriations package for Fiscal Year 2023 that takes steps to invest in the future of our community.\n\n\u201cThis bipartisan funding package makes transformative investments designed to uplift families, keep our neighborhoods safe, support our military, strengthen our economy, and more,\u201d said Congressman Joe Morelle. \u201cI\u2019m particularly proud that I was successful in securing funding for more than a dozen local organizations who are doing extraordinary work in our community. I\u2019m working every day to create a brighter future for our families, and I look forward to continuing to work alongside my colleagues to ensure everyone has the resources necessary to thrive.\u201d\n\nCongressman Morelle secured over $12 million in funding for local organizationswho submitted requests through the Fiscal Year 2023 Community Project Funding process, including:\n\nAction for a Better Community: $517,000\n\nBivona Child Advocacy Center: $306,000\n\nCameron Community Ministries: $200,000\n\nCharles Settlement House: $619,784\n\nCity of Rochester Youth Employment Services: $1,000,000\n\nCity of Rochester Surveillance Equipment: $300,000\n\nConnected Communities: $500,000\n\nCounty of Monroe/Monroe Community College: $3,500,000\n\nEnCompass Resources for Learning: $700,000\n\nHis Branches: $819,312\n\nRochester Area Community Foundation: $300,000\n\nRochester Institute of Technology: $2,000,000\n\nSusan B. Anthony House: $750,000\n\nUniversity of Rochester Strong Memorial Hospital: $1,000,000 W\n\nWillow Domestic Violence Center: $325,000\n\nAdditional highlights of the appropriations package include investments in:\n\nUplifting Families\n\n$8 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, which helps low-income families access childcare;\n\n$12 billion for Head Start to strengthen early childhood education;\n\n$315 million for Preschool Development Grants\n\n$154 billion for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and $6 billion for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to reduce food insecurity;\n\n$28.5 billion for child nutrition programs supporting school lunches as well as summer meals;\n\n$5 billion for Low Income Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help families afford home heating costs.\n\n$455 billion to expand broadband internet service, particularly in rural areas\n\nSupporting Servicemembers and Veterans\n\n$118.7 billion for Veterans Affairs (VA) medical care to provide essential health services for more than 7.3 million veterans;\n\n$5 billion to assist with implementation of the Honoring Our PACT Act, which strengthens healthcare for veterans exposed to toxins;\n\n$44.9 billion in emergency assistance to Ukraine including resources for training, equipment, weapons, supplies and services, salaries and stipends, and intelligence support;\n\n$2.6 billion to support housing assistance for veterans and their families.\n\nStrengthening our Economy\n\n$1.8 billion to implement the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act which bolsters advanced manufacturing, creates jobs, and enhances American competitiveness with China;\n\n$500 million for the Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program, to provide planning grants to create geographically-distributed \u201cregional technology hubs,\u201d focusing on technology development, job creation, and expanding U.S. innovation capacity;\n\n$121 million for the Economic Development Administration\u2019s Public Works program;\n\n$140 million to support Small Business Development Centers;\n\n$27 million for Women\u2019s Business Centers.\n\nEnhancing Education\n\n$7,395 for the maximum Pell Grant. This is the largest increase in the maximum award since the 2009-2010 school year and helps millions of students pursue higher education;\n\n$15 billion for Special Education State Grant programs that support services for an estimated 9 million students and children with disabilities.\n\nInvesting in Law Enforcement\n\n$324 million for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring to place over 1,800 more police officers on the streets of our communities;\n\n$231 million for State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance and COPS Office grant programs to strengthen police community relations;\n\n$700 million, the highest funding level ever, for grants provided by the Office on Violence Against Women.\n\nAddressing the Opioid Crisis\n\n$1.6 billion to states through the State Opioid Response Grant;\n\n$80 million to address the needs of children affected by the opioid crisis.\n\nProtecting Our Environment\n\n$10 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to fund clean air and water programs;\n\n$3.46 billion for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE);\n\n$260 million to support clean energy programs.\n\nFor more details on this appropriations package, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3778", "Tonko Heralds Major Legislative Wins in Omnibus Legislation", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Paul Tonko", "T000469", "tonko.house.gov", "tonko", "https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Legislation Tonko championed on addiction, rare disease, manufacturing & more included in spending package\n\nWASHINGTON, DC\u2014Congressman Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) celebrated the passage of key provisions he championed in the year-end federal spending bill.\n\n\u201cThe historic investments advanced in our bipartisan omnibus package are a reflection of America\u2019s deepest values,\u201d Congressman Tonko said. \u201cI\u2019m proud to vote for this legislation that works to drive innovation, support our most vulnerable communities, create good jobs, address the disease of addiction and so much more. I look forward to seeing these key provisions and programs enacted at once to give much-needed support and improve the lives of so many in our community.\u201d\n\nProvisions Tonko authored that are included in the 2023 omnibus bill:\n\nAll 15 Community Project Funding requests that Tonko championed, which will bring $12,849,613 in direct federal investments to the Capital Region for projects that will support underserved communities, strengthen mental health services, invest in water infrastructure, drive economic development, and much more.\n\nThe Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act that eliminates the redundant requirement that practitioners apply for a separate waiver through the Drug Enforcement Administration to prescribe buprenorphine for substance use disorder treatment. After France took similar action to make buprenorphine available without a specialized waiver, opioid overdose deaths declined by 79 percent over a four-year period.\n\nThe Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant Act, which reauthorizes the crucial Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant Act for an additional five years, thereby providing sustained investment in evidence-based programs that support individuals, families, and municipalities struggling with addiction.\n\nThe Helping Experts Accelerate Rare Treatments (HEART) Act that strengthens the U.S. Food and Drug Administration review process for drugs that treat rare and ultra-rare diseases by involving scientists and doctors with expertise along with patients and families . This legislation was inspired by a constituent whose daughter is living with Familial Chylomicronemia Syndrome.\n\nThe Manufacturing.gov Act that would establish a one-stop hub to connect manufacturers with federal manufacturing programs.\n\nA provision to amend the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act that would strengthen the role of the Federal Trade Commission and address recent constitutional challenges to the law to secure a brighter future for the horseracing industry.\n\nThe Medicaid Directory of Caregivers Act (Medicaid DOC Act) to improve access to doctors for Medicaid participants by requiring states and Medicaid managed care companies to publish and regularly update searchable provider directories.\n\n$29.2 million in funding delivered to National Heritage Areas (a $2 million increase in funding from last year), with funding deadlines extended through 2024 for 5 National Heritage Areas.\n\nThe EV Grid Act to have the Department of Energy study how electricity demands from electric vehicle charging infrastructure will affect the electric grid in the future.\n\nText of the 2023 federal funding package can be found HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://velazquez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/velazquez-secures-federal-funding-local-projects-final-government", "Velazquez Secures Federal Funding for Local Projects in Final Government Funding Package", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez", "V000081", "velazquez.house.gov", "velazquez", "https://velazquez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "December 23, 2022\n\nWashington D.C.- Today, Congresswoman Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez (D-NY) announced that she has secured $16,025,453 in Community Project Funding for New York's 7th District in the 2023 government funding bill. This funding responds directly to some of the most pressing needs across her District.\n\n\"The funding we passed today is critical to the success of our community \u2013 from educating our youth, and providing after-school care, to improving the local environment and meeting the healthcare needs of our residents,\" said Congresswoman Vel\u00e1zquez. \"I am proud to have secured over 16 million in federal funding in this bill that I know will meet long overdue community needs in New York's 7th District. I look forward to seeing these funds being put to use to help grow and strengthen our neighborhoods.\"\n\nCongresswoman Vel\u00e1zquez secured funding for 15 projects that will directly benefit New York's 7th District residents. These include:\n\n$750,000 for the Acquisition of a building in the Bushwick, Brooklyn neighborhood to create the Brooklyn Center for Social Justice, Entrepreneurship and the Arts (BCSEA),\n\n$1,800,453 for the Arab-American Family Support Center in collaboration with the Academy of Medical & Public Health Services, Brooklyn, NY for immigrant mental health initiative services, including equipment,\n\n$1,025,000 for the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy in collaboration with NYC H20 (Ridgewood/Highland Park), Greater Ridgewood Youth Council, and St. Ann's Warehouse youth education and stewardship initiative programs,\n\n$750,000 for the Fifth Avenue Committee (FAC) Barrio Affordable Solar,\n\n$1,100,000 for the Grand Street Settlement 80 Pitt Street Community Center Renovation to make capital improvements within the Community Center,\n\n$300,000 for the Loisaida, New York, NY for an environmental and community science program to promote a climate workforce development & entrepreneurship,\n\n$800,000 for the Make the Road New York, Brooklyn, NY in collaboration with Bangladeshi American Community Development & Youth Services for adult literacy programs and services, including the purchase of equipment, to improve economic outcomes,\n\n$2,000,000 for the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, New York, NY to renovate an existing kitchen and office spaces, bathrooms, patient room doors, and replacement of surveillance cameras at Woodhull Mental and Medical Center in North Brooklyn,\n\n$1,000,000 for the North Brooklyn Anti-Violence Initiative in collaboration with St. Nicks Alliance, Riseboro and The Wick/Los Sures which will help to prevent violence and improve the quality-of-life in North Brooklyn with innovative strategies,\n\n$750,000 for the NYCHA ADA Accessibility and Security Lighting Project at Borinquen Plaza and Red Hook East and West,\n\n$300,000 for the Good Old Lower East Side (Goles) Public Housing Leadership Academy to train emerging leaders in Lower East Side public housing,\n\n$750,000 for Evergreen Exchange in coordination with Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation for a business assistance program Resilient Recovery: Brooklyn's Industrial Waterfront,\n\n$1,500,000 for the St. Francis College, Brooklyn, NY nursing simulation lab for the education of future nurses in coordination with The Brooklyn Hospital Center,\n\n$1,200,000 for the United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg Inc., Brooklyn, NY in collaboration with Henry Street Settlement will provide social services initiative connecting families to assistance to reduce poverty and improve economic independence,\n\n$2,000,000 for the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY for facilities and equipment to increase access to colorectal cancer screenings.\n\nThe twelve-bill government funding package will create good-paying American jobs, grow opportunity for the middle class and small businesses, and provide a lifeline for working families. Taken together, the funding for New York's 7th District and the funding increases for critical government programs that will continue to reverse decades of disinvestment.\n\nThis bill now goes to President Biden's desk for his signature. A detailed summary of the bill is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-announces-5-billion-included-in-government-funding-bill-for-the-honoring-our-pact-act-which-extends-va-care-to-afghanistan-and-iraq-veterans-exposed-to-burn-pits-and-other-toxins-these-funds-will-deliver-desperately-needed-medical-coverage-for-tens-of-thousands-exposed-ny-vets-", "SCHUMER ANNOUNCES $5 BILLION INCLUDED IN GOVERNMENT FUNDING BILL FOR THE HONORING OUR PACT ACT, WHICH EXTENDS VA CARE TO AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ VETERANS EXPOSED TO BURN PITS & OTHER TOXINS; THESE FUNDS...", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Schumer Led PACT Act To Passage After Years Of Fighting Alongside NY Vets To Extend VA Care; Veterans Have Struggled To Receive Coverage & Had Claims Repeatedly Denied For Long-Term Health Effects\u2014From Cancers To Respiratory Illnesses\u2014Caused By Toxins In Burn Pit Smoke; Funding Also Helps Vietnam Vets Exposed to Agent Orange\n\nCritical Funding For \u201cHonoring Our PACT Act\u201d Will Ensure Vets Exposed To Environmental Hazards Get The Health Care Benefits They Desperately Deserve\n\nSchumer: Every Breath Our Veterans Take Is A Reminder Of Their Sacrifice; Our Vets Will Receive The Full Benefits They Deserve With The Help Of These Funds\n\nAfter months of tireless advocacy, and an all-out push standing with veterans across New York State from Rochester to Long Island to Central New York, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer announced $5 billion has been included in the government funding bill for the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 (Honoring Our PACT Act).\n\nSpecifically, the bill allocates $5 billion for the Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund, which provides funding for the Honoring Our PACT Act. The PACT Act extends health coverage for veterans who were exposed to burn pit smoke and other environmental hazards that caused cancers and other illnesses during their service. Earlier this year, Schumer led the PACT Act to Senate passage after years of relentless fighting to extend healthcare coverage to tens of thousands of vets across New York to get the medical treatment they deserve.\n\n\u201cI am proud to have led the Honoring Our Pact Act to passage and to deliver this funding to extend critical care to our nation\u2019s veterans,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cTens of thousands of New York veterans, and over three and a half million vets across America, have been exposed to toxins from burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan in the line of duty, and for too long, bureaucratic rules denied them treatment for cancers, respiratory diseases, and countless other illnesses incurred while fighting for our freedom. Every breath our veterans take is a reminder of their sacrifice for our country. Funding this long overdue legislation keeps our nation\u2019s promise of taking care of our veterans and providing them the full health benefits they deserve after they put their lives and health on the line to protect our freedoms.\u201d\n\nSchumer explained that the Honoring Our PACT Act expands health care access for veterans affected by exposure to harmful substances, toxins, and other environmental hazards, including from burn pits, which put service members in Iraq and Afghanistan in proximity of airborne hazards with the open-air combustion of trash and other waste like chemicals and munitions. Toxins in burn pit smoke have been shown to potentially have long-term effects on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, gastrointestinal tract, and internal organs, and veterans often faced a complicated disability benefit claims process at the VA to get access to the health care they needed. Schumer said this funding and legislation will help extend VA health care to the tens of thousands of toxic-exposed veterans in New York, and 3.5 million veterans nationally exposed to toxic substances during their service even if they do not have a service-connected disability.\n\nSchumer has a long history of fighting to expand healthcare coverage for veterans and fighting to deliver the treatment they deserve. In 2020, Schumer stood with Upstate New York Vietnam War veterans across the state to demand the inclusion of additional diseases to the Agent Orange presumptive conditions list. After a full court press that he launched in Upstate New York, Schumer was successfully able to secure the expansion of the list to include bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, and Parkinsonism for diseases associated with \u2018Agent Orange\u2019 exposure in the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).\n\nThe Honoring Our Pact Act expands on Schumer\u2019s previous advocacy for Agent Orange exposure by further adding hypertension to the list of presumptive conditions. In addition, the bill also provides new or increased disability benefits to thousands of veterans by designating 23 respiratory illnesses and cancers as likely linked to toxic exposures related to military burn pits.\n\nDetails of the Honoring Our PACT Act, which was funded in the just-passed government funding bill can be found below:\n\nProvide Priority Group 6 health care for over 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans\n\nProvide extension of combat eligibility for health care from 5 to 10 years with a one-year open enrollment period for those veterans who missed their window.\n\nStreamline VA\u2019s review process for establishing toxic exposure presumptions\n\nConcede exposure to airborne hazards/burn pits based on locations & dates of service\n\nRequire medical exams/opinions for certain veterans with toxic exposure disability claims\n\nAdd hypertension and Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance to the list of presumptions for Agent Orange exposure\n\nEstablish a presumption of service connection for 23 respiratory illnesses and cancers related to burn pits/airborne hazards exposure\n\nCreate a presumption of exposure to radiation for veterans who participated in cleanup activities in Palomares, Spain, and Enewetak Atoll\n\nExpand Agent Orange exposure to veterans who served in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia\n\nImprove data collection between VA and the Department of Defense\n\nCommission studies related to incidents of cancer among veterans, health trends of Post 9/11 veterans and feasibility of providing healthcare to dependents of veterans\n\nRequire VA to provide standardized training to improve toxic exposure disability claims adjudications\n\nRequire VA to conduct outreach and provide resources to toxic exposed veterans\n\nResources VA with additional workforce and facilities investments to deliver these historic benefits to veterans across the country\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gillibrand-announce-44-million-in-bipartisan-spending-package-for-new-greenwich-wastewater-treatment-plant-", "SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE $4.4 MILLION IN BIPARTISAN SPENDING PACKAGE FOR NEW GREENWICH WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand revealed that the Village of Greenwich will receive $4.4 million in funding from the omnibus funding package for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. The funding will be used to build a new wastewater treatment plant for the Village of Greenwich. The omnibus is expected to pass Congress and be signed into law this week.\n\nThe Village of Greenwich\u2019s wastewater treatment plant is at the end of its useful life and is in an advanced state of deterioration. Given the fact that the original manufacturer is no longer in business and replacement parts would not be available, any failure of an individual critical component could lead to a complete shutdown of the plant.\n\nThe proposed facility will have an anticipated lifespan of at least 60 years and will have built-in redundancies and room for future expansion.\n\n\u201cFor far too long the Village of Greenwich\u2019s aging wastewater treatment facility has needed serious upgrades, and I am proud to deliver this major $4.4 million federal investment to finally replace and expand the wastewater treatment plant to move this project forward without the burden having to fall on local taxpayers,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cI will always to fight tooth and nail to keep our water systems flowing, jobs growing, and New Yorkers safe and healthy.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Village of Greenwich\u2019s existing wastewater treatment facility serves a key role in protecting the environment but it is nearing the end of its useful life,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cI am proud to have helped secure this $4.4 million in funding, which will enable Greenwich to build a new, modern wastewater treatment plant that will ensure our state\u2019s waterways remain clean now and into the future.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gillibrand-announce-nearly-11-million-for-syracuse-in-federal-bipartisan-funding-package-includes-25m-to-bolster-syr-airport-security-operations_to-fight-food-insecurity-and-boost-health-care-across-cny-", "SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE NEARLY $11 MILLION FOR SYRACUSE IN FEDERAL BIPARTISAN FUNDING PACKAGE; INCLUDES $2.5M TO BOLSTER SYR AIRPORT SECURITY OPERATIONS, $$$ TO FIGHT FOOD INSECURITY AND BOOST...", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand are announcing that several of their priorities for Syracuse, including $2,500,000 in federal funding for security enhancements at Syracuse Hancock International Airport, were successfully passed in the final omnibus funding package for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. Together, the senators secured $10.76 million for projects that will directly impact the Syracuse community. Notably, the senators secured $1.1 million to support suicide prevention efforts and $900K to center research, diagnostic expertise, clinical specialists, and medical education resources for Lyme and tick-borne disease at SUNY Upstate Medical University.\n\n\u201cFrom increasing public safety to expanding SUNY Upstate\u2019s mental health services to boosting the Food Bank of Central New York, these projects will address some of the most critical infrastructure, public health, and community needs across the greater Syracuse area,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cThis funding means good-paying jobs, better healthcare, clean drinking water, revitalizing our neighborhoods, and so much more. I am proud to deliver this major investment of nearly $11 million in Central New York\u2019s future.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud that I was able to secure nearly $11 million in this year\u2019s funding package to invest in the future of Syracuse,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cI will remain vigilant in the Senate fighting for the resources that will help make transportation seamless, improve public safety and health, and create new jobs in Central New York. It is more important now than ever that we invest in the infrastructure that Syracuse needs to ensure that the city continues to be a fixture for economic growth in Upstate New York.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gillibrand-announce-over-35-million-for-twenty-two-hudson-valley-projects-secured-in-the-end-of-year-spending-bill-including-increasing-access-to-lifesaving-cancer-treatment-in-rockland-county-connecting-communities-along-the-hudson-river-boosting-crime-prevention-programs-and-kick-starting-infrastructure-projects-across-the-hudson-valley-", "SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE OVER $35 MILLION FOR TWENTY-TWO HUDSON VALLEY PROJECTS SECURED IN THE END-OF-YEAR SPENDING BILL; INCLUDING INCREASING ACCESS TO LIFESAVING CANCER TREATMENT IN ROCKLAND...", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today revealed that the Hudson Valley will receive $35,694,472 in community project funding from the omnibus end-of-year spending package for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 for critical local projects.\n\n\u201cFrom boosting lifesaving cancer treatment at Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern to connecting communities along the scenic Hudson River in Westchester and Rockland to boosting public safety in New Rochelle and finally fixing our aging water infrastructure in Middletown, these projects will address some of the most critical infrastructure, public health, and community needs across the Hudson Valley,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cThis funding means good-paying jobs, gun violence prevention programs, safer streets, a cleaner environment, getting lifesaving healthcare where it\u2019s needed most, and so much more. I am proud to deliver this major over $35 million investment in the Hudson Valley\u2019s future.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is a critical investment that will help revitalize the Hudson Valley,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cToday, we are committing to putting millions toward rebuilding our roads and sewers, improving public safety, and expanding health care access. I\u2019m proud to have fought to secure this funding and I\u2019ll work tirelessly to make sure Hudson Valley families, workers, and businesses have what they need to thrive.\u201d\n\nThe successful Community Project Funding requests are as follows:\n\nMUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES (7 Projects, $19,150,472)\n\n$5,000,000 For The Town of Orangetown To Complete Route 9W Safety Improvements At Oak Tree Road: The funding will build a single-lane roundabout at the intersection of Oak Tree Road and Route 9W in Palisades, New York, where many accidents occur every year. This project was in partnership with Congressman Mondaire Jones.\n\n$4,000,000 For The Village of Ossining To Construct Its Route 9 Road Diet: The funding will design and construct a road diet to improve safety and balance the Route 9 corridor in the Village of Ossining. Earlier this year, village officials met with Senator Schumer and Congressman Jones\u2019 offices to show them the dangerous intersection leading to this successful funding request. This project was in partnership with Congressman Mondaire Jones.\n\n$3,452,972 For The City of Middletown To Make Critical Water System Improvements: This project will commence phase three of a multi-stage upgrade to the City of Middletown\u2019s water infrastructure. These funds will go towards replacing pipes from 1887 with new infrastructure and builds on the funding that Senator Schumer secured last year to expand reliable water infrastructure for Middletown residents and businesses. This project was in partnership with Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney.\n\n$2,797,500 For Westchester County And Scenic Hudson To Construct The Route 9-RiverWalk Transit Connector: The funding will connect Route 9 neighborhoods and businesses with the iconic Westchester RiverWalk. This ADA-compliant trail connection will provide bicycle and pedestrian access between Tarrytown Station, a multi-modal transportation hub, and homes, businesses, and jobs. This was in partnership with Congressman Mondaire Jones.\n\n$2,400,000 For The Village of New Square To Make Key Drainage And Flood Mitigation Improvements: The funding will replace storm sewers with larger diameter pipes for increased flow capacity and the ability to provide some attenuation of peak flows by providing increased storage capacity. In New Square, a densely populated urban center, flooding impacts thousands of residents and businesses in a short timeframe, creating significant health and safety hazards, a problem that this project seeks to help address. This project was in partnership with Congressman Mondaire Jones.\n\n$1,500,000 For Water Treatment Facility Improvements In The Village Of Kiryas Joel: This investment will help the village enhance its publicly-owned water treatment facility. Modernized upgrades will help the village to create cleaner and more reliable water for its residents.\n\n$1,000,000 For The Town Of Poughkeepsie\u2019s Hudson Heritage Sewer System Project: Hudson Heritage is a mixed-use development project on the 156-acre site of the former Hudson River Psychiatric Center. This funding will allow the Town of Poughkeepsie to create a waste water system at the site, entirely within a federally-designated Environmental Justice Area.\n\nHEALTHCARE, ARTS AND EDUCATION (12 Projects, $14,869,000)\n\n$2,000,000 For Good Samaritan Hospital To Construct Oncology Surgical Suite: This funding will provide Hudson Valley patients who need cancer surgery a fully-equipped and dedicated surgical oncology room with on-demand service that will offer responsive, timely cancer surgeries and will result in increased patient satisfaction as well as improved health outcomes. This funding follows Senator Schumer\u2019s personal visit to Suffern\u2019s Good Samaritan Hospital in November of 2021.\n\n$2,000,000 For Sun River Health To Build A New Urgent Care Center In Beacon: This project will renovate the Beacon Health Center in Dutchess County to significantly expand access and capacity, raise visibility, and contribute to community revitalization in downtown Beacon. The new Urgent Care Center will provide walk-in access to a full complement of primary care services, as well as radiology and labs, through expanded hours of service, including weekends, with easy linkage to a medical home for ongoing primary, preventive, behavioral and oral health care. This project was in partnership with Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney.\n\n$1,975,000 For Montefiore Nyack Hospital To Upgrade Critical Electrical Infrastructure: Montefiore Nyack will purchase and install two new emergency generators allowing for greater capacity for critical equipment not currently on emergency power. This includes much of the hospital cooling in patient care areas. The plan will also develop campus wide emergency power generation capacities to allow for sustained operation in the event of prolonged power failure. This funding follows multiple meetings and months of work between Senator Schumer\u2019s team and Montefiore Nyack.\n\n$1,900,000 For New York Medical College To Implement Its Equity And Compassion In Medical Education Project: This project will expand a highly specialized healthcare training facility to provide students and residents with patient encounters specifically engineered to teach and test their ability to recognize patients\u2019 issues that go deeper than the health problems they report. The project will train healthcare professionals in Westchester and Rockland to better serve diverse populations, not only with standard practices, but also systemic issues of food insecurity, sustainability, substandard housing, and resilience during community-wide emergencies This project was in partnership with Congressman Mondaire Jones.\n\n$1,600,000 For Storm King To Complete Its Entrance and Conservation Facility Renovation Project: This project will complete the renovation of the entrance and welcome facilities to the park along with the facility used for the conservation of art projects. This project will help sustain tourism and economic development in Orange County and the surrounding towns. This project was in partnership with Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney.\n\n$1,300,000 For Jawonio To Construct A State-Of-The-Art Behavioral Health Center: This funding will build out a new space in Rockland County for the Jawonio Behavioral Health Center where people with a mental health diagnosis and the dually diagnosed can receive holistic mental health services, achieve their recovery goals, and actively participate in their community. The program is unique as it provides integrated psychiatric rehabilitation and clinical services that promote treatment through a recovery-oriented lens. This was in partnership with Congressman Mondaire Jones.\n\n$1,000,000 For Good Samaritan Hospital To Construct Modernized Cancer Screening Endoscopy: The funding will be used to establish a modernized Cancer Screening Endoscopy suite to facilitate preventative screenings aimed at detecting cancerous growths during early treatable stages that are commonly without external symptoms. . This funding follows Senator Schumer\u2019s personal visit to Suffern\u2019s Good Samaritan Hospital in November of 2021. This was in partnership with Congressman Mondaire Jones.\n\n$1,000,000 For St. John\u2019s Riverside Hospital To Upgrade Its Emergency Department:This funding will renovate and expand the Emergency Department space at St. John\u2019s Riverside Hospital to add additional patient care space and workstations to the currently overcrowded location. This hospital primarily serves Medicaid and Medicare recipients, and the renovations will help create a safer and more effective healthcare delivery setting. This funding builds on Schumer\u2019s successful 2021 CDS request which revamped the hospital\u2019s maternity unit. This project was in partnership with Congressman Jamaal Bowman.\n\n$825,000 For New York Medical College To Launch The Women's Institute for Science Entrepreneurship (WISE): This transformative program will support female undergraduates pursuing STEM education to cultivate new scientific concepts and launch new businesses. WISE creates a multidisciplinary entrepreneurship educational opportunity for students and launches careers for alumni who will make significant differences to their communities and around the world.\n\n$537,000 For Access: Supports for Living For A Renovation & Training Facility: This will fund the renovation of the Access: Supports for Living\u2019s headquarters, creating functional, efficient space, including shared workspace used by staff working in program administration. This will allow one of Orange County\u2019s largest employers to eliminate other costly, inefficient space, and redeploy those funds into serving the community. Senator Schumer worked closely with Access to secure this funding and was honored with their Vision of Hope award last year for his efforts.\n\n$500,000 For The Westchester Residential Opportunities Aging-In-Place Home Repair Program: This funding will launch an Aging-in-Place Home Repair program, which will support aging-in-place repairs, energy efficiency, and healthy living for Westchester County\u2019s seniors. This was in partnership with Congressman Mondaire Jones.\n\n$250,000 For Riverkeeper\u2019s Water Quality Web Portal: This funding will support Riverkeeper in updating and expanding upon this nearly 10-year-old data portal, in order to better serve the public's interest in safe recreation, and inform climate-resilient water quality improvements and equitable access to the joys of outdoor recreation. Riverkeeper's Publicly Accessible Water Quality Web Portal will be a collection of unique scientific data on the presence of E.coli and Enterococcus, two fecal-indicator bacteria, in the Hudson River, New York Harbor, and many tributaries.\n\nPUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION (3 Projects, $1,675,000)\n\n$1,125,000 For Justice Innovation Inc. To Implement The New Rochelle Community Youth Violence Intervention Initiative: This funding would be used to prevent youth violence in New Rochelle. Project staff will leverage the services of local social service providers, reengage disconnected youth, support their enrollment and completion of socioemotional, educational, and economic services, and facilitate the improvement of their economic self-sufficiency, thereby improving community violence outcomes. This project was in partnership with Congressman Jamaal Bowman.\n\n$300,000 For The City Of Middletown Police Department To Upgrade Its Police Security and Technology: This project will assist with the acquisition of additional public security cameras and license plate readers, which will help with the investigation of criminal activity. This project will contribute to public safety in Middletown by providing first responders with additional tools to prevent criminal activity. This project was in partnership with Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney.\n\n$250,000 For The City Of New Rochelle To Make Key Upgrades To Its Youth Bureau:The funding will be used to furnish, outfit, and establish the first-ever youth-based community center in New Rochelle, to be managed by the City of New Rochelle's Department of Parks and Recreation and Youth Bureau. The community center will be located in downtown New Rochelle, where there are thousands of low- and moderate-income children and families living and working within walking distance. This funding follow\u2019s Senator Schumer\u2019s personal meeting with the New Rochelle NAACP earlier this year.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gillibrand-urge-fema-to-stand-ready-to-quickly-approve-disaster-declaration-for-western-new-york-and-upstate-communities-impacted-by-holiday-weekend-blizzard", "SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND URGE FEMA TO STAND READY TO QUICKLY APPROVE DISASTER DECLARATION FOR WESTERN NEW YORK AND UPSTATE COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY HOLIDAY WEEKEND BLIZZARD", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Senators Say Disaster Declaration Would Unlock Federal Funds for Impacted Counties Still Recovering From Double Blow Of Back To Back Winter Storms After The Record Breaking Snowvember Storm\n\nCurrent Forecasts Predict Brutal Mix Of Frigid Temperatures, Snow, Rain, And High Winds \u2013 Creating Dangerous Conditions, With Meteorologists Already Referring The Event As Potentially A \u201cOnce-In-A-Generation Storm.\u201d\n\nSchumer & Gillibrand To FEMA: Stand Ready To Approve Any Requested Aid for Western NY & Upstate Communities\n\nU.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today urged the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to approve any request from New York State for a major disaster declaration as the potential holiday weekend blizzard begins to touch down in Western NY and communities across Upstate NY. The senators said that current forecasts of snow, extremely high winds, freezing rain, and rapidly dropping temperatures creates potentially very dangerous conditions, especially around such a peak travel time due to the holiday weekend.\n\n\u201cBuffalo, Western NY and communities across New York State are expecting a rapidly intensifying blizzard and dangerous conditions as we enter the holiday weekend and it is absolutely crucial that they have resources they need to recover and weather this storm,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cFEMA needs to stand ready to swiftly approve any forthcoming requests from the state for assistance to help these communities quickly recover and endure the storm.\u201d\n\n\u201cOver the next few days, Western New Yorkers will weather dangerously low temperatures, poor travel conditions, severe storm surges, and heavy wind gusts expected to lead to widespread power outages,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cAhead of this storm of potentially historic proportions, FEMA must be prepared to immediately send any aid requested by the state in order to keep our communities safe through the storm and allow them to recover quickly from any damage.\u201d\n\nNew York State has already declared a State of Emergency for the entire State of New York in advance of a significant winter weather system forecast beginning Thursday evening and continuing through Monday, and the City of Buffalo has also issued a State of Emergency ahead of the storm.\n\nIf a disaster declaration is requested and declared, grant assistance would be made available to state and local governments, as well as certain non-profit organizations, to reimburse costs incurred for emergency work and the repair or replacement of damaged facilities. This funding is available on a cost-sharing basis; FEMA generally covers 75 percent of the eligible costs for permanent and emergency work. After any severe storm, the first step in the declaration process is for the state to request a Preliminary Damage Assessment, during which FEMA representatives join state, local, and other officials to survey damage across storm-impacted counties to help determine whether the cost of the disaster meets the criteria for a federal disaster declaration. Schumer and Gillibrand urged FEMA to be prepared to support any requests for aid from New York State.\n\nThe Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act authorizes the president to issue \u201cmajor disaster\u201d or \u201cemergency\u201d declarations before or after catastrophes occur. The decision to issue a disaster declaration is at the discretion of the president, and must be requested by the governor of the state. These declarations unlock federal aid through FEMA that is broken into two broad areas: Individual Assistance (IA) that aids families and individuals, and Public Assistance (PA) that is mainly for emergency work such as debris removal and permanent repairs to infrastructure. When assessing the degree of PA damage, FEMA considers six factors: estimated cost of the assistance, localized impact, insurance coverage, hazard mitigation, recent disaster, and programs of other federal assistance. Regarding the cost, FEMA has certain thresholds that have to be met to qualify for PA specific to the state and the counties in question.\n\nA copy of Schumer and Gillibrand\u2019s letter appears below:\n\nDear Administrator Criswell:\n\nWe write in strong support of communities in New York ahead of what is predicted to be a \u201conce in a generation\u201d storm. We urge the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to stand ready, if requested, to work with affected counties and New York State to respond to the impacts of this storm and if the state requests it, to make assistance available through a pre-disaster declaration as expeditiously as possible.\n\nDays ahead of the impact, forecasters are already warning this will be an extremely powerful winter storm. The rain is expected to begin today, Thursday, with winds picking up and rain falling throughout the night. On Friday, the temperature is expected to drop significantly, causing a flash freeze across the soaked ground and possibly taking down tree limbs. The rain will transition to snow as temperatures drop, with winds expected to reduce visibility to almost nothing. Overnight, the forecast predicts the snow will be extremely heavy with wind gusts up to 65 miles per hour. This could down powerlines and place many Western New Yorkers in danger.\n\nSnow and winds are expected to continue through Saturday and Sunday, with relief not anticipated to come until Monday. As of midday on Wednesday, the National Weather Service had already issued a winter storm watch for much of Western New York, including Niagara, Orleans, Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, Chautauqua, and Cattaraugus counties. With so many New Yorkers and visitors planning to travel ahead of the holiday weekend, we urge FEMA to stand ready to approve any pre-disaster declaration request that may come from New York State, and provide any and all assistance available to New Yorkers should the storm impact New York.\n\nWe are grateful for the prompt attention that the federal government has historically give in responding to disaster impacting New York State. In that spirit, we strongly urge you to approve any forthcoming requests for FEMA assistance from New York State as affected communities begin their recovery from these storms.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3776", "Tonko Introduces Sweeping Offshore Wind Legislation", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Paul Tonko", "T000469", "tonko.house.gov", "tonko", "https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014Congressman Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) introduced the Offshore Energy Modernization Act, legislation that provides a comprehensive blueprint to ensure the long-term viability and success of U.S. offshore wind development. In 2021, President Biden announced the nation\u2019s goal to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2030. Tonko\u2019s legislation implements critical measures and reforms to help responsibly develop offshore wind and enable the industry to meet those goals.\n\n\u201cWe know the importance of offshore wind in meeting our clean energy goals, and the opportunities it presents to create good jobs, strengthen our economy, and tackle climate change,\u201d Congressman Tonko said. \u201cWhile we\u2019ve taken key steps to drive investment in wind, our work is far from over. In order to meet our national goals and take full advantage of the economic boon offshore wind presents, we need strong federal action from Congress\u2014my Offshore Energy Modernization Act is the solution. This legislation ensures we will unlock the full potential of American offshore wind energy production and deployment. As Congress continues to discuss permitting reform, I sincerely hope we can give far greater consideration to updating outdated energy laws to allow our emerging clean energy economy to thrive.\u201d\n\nThe Offshore Energy Modernization Act of 2022:\n\nMakes targeted reforms to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to better reflect the realities of offshore wind development and provide long-term certainty for this emerging industry.\n\nProvides funding for agencies to facilitate timely and efficient permitting of offshore renewable energy projects, including through early and robust community engagement.\n\nEnsures that offshore renewable energy projects support good-paying, union jobs and a reliable, domestic supply chain.\n\nInvests in marine and coastal habitat protection and compensates fishing interests that have been impacted by offshore wind development.\n\nEstablishes the Offshore Power Administration to provide Federal assistance to advance shared offshore transmission infrastructure.\n\nCreates new Department of Energy grant and loan guarantee opportunities to support U.S. shipbuilding needed to construct offshore wind projects.\n\nLonnie Stephenson, President of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), issued the following statement in support of the Offshore Energy Modernization Act: \u201cThe IBEW\u2019s 775,000 active and retired members strongly support this groundbreaking legislation, which will help the federal government create family-sustaining union jobs on offshore renewable energy projects. Significantly, the Offshore Energy Modernization Act would require developers, contractors and subcontractors to enter project labor agreements, which will encourage hiring local, highly skilled construction workers like IBEW electricians to work on these important projects.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Offshore Energy Modernization Act helps lay the foundation for a responsible clean ocean energy future,\u201d said Amy Trice, Director of Ocean Planning at Ocean Conservancy. \u201cOcean Conservancy thanks Congressman Tonko for championing the critical pieces\u2014regional needs, research, monitoring, and investment\u2014that will take offshore wind energy from policy to power. We look forward to working on this bill as it moves through Congress.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe commend Congressman Tonko for recognizing that the fishing industry needs support for mitigation and compensation strategies from offshore wind development and for his leadership in beginning to address these concerns,\u201d said Lane Johnston, Programs Manager at the Responsible Offshore Development Alliance (RODA). \u201cIn particular we are encouraged to see recognition of the need for a Compensation Fund that includes support for the mitigation and compensation of impacts to our marine environment and the sustainable seafood harvesters that support many U.S. coastal communities. RODA and our members look forward to continuing to work on the bill with Rep. Tonko and our ocean champions to protect fishing jobs and businesses and ensure that future ocean development strives to be compatible with existing ocean users.\u201d\n\n\u201cRepresentative Tonko is a longtime champion of a clean energy economy, and with the offshore wind industry on the cusp of massive growth, he understands that now is the time to ensure the supply chains are primed for this success in the coming years. We commend Rep. Tonko for his work on the Offshore Energy Modernization Act, which is a positive step in ensuring the mechanisms are in place to achieve the nation\u2019s clean energy goals,\u201d said Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters.\n\n\"Offshore wind development presents both an opportunity to increase the Nation's renewable energy portfolio but also potential challenges for fisheries and marine ecosystems,\" said Tony Friedrich, Policy Director and Vice President of the American Saltwater Guides Association. \"This legislation will address many of those challenges. The American Saltwater Guides Association thanks Congressman Tonko for bringing much-needed clarity to offshore wind development in the United States, namely by ensuring recreational fishing and boating access in offshore wind arrays, looking at habitat enhancement opportunities in the decommissioning process, and finally establishing a revenue-sharing framework for offshore wind that will fund coastal conservation efforts.\"\n\n\u201cWe are grateful to Representative Tonko for his continued leadership supporting the burgeoning offshore wind energy economy, including today\u2019s introduction of the Offshore Energy Modernization Act, which helps lay the groundwork for this industry\u2019s long-term certainty,\u201d said David Shadburn, Government Affairs Advocate at the League of Conservation Voters. \u201cWe look forward to working with Congressman Tonko on this bill into the 118th Congress and other ways to ensure we equitably achieve President Biden\u2019s goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2030.\u201d\n\nRep. Tonko has long led efforts to support the growing offshore wind industry. Last year, he championed the Restoring Offshore Wind Opportunities Act, a bill to overturn the Trump-era offshore wind leasing ban in North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida to jumpstart clean energy deployment and create high quality jobs across the nation. That legislation was signed into law this year as part of the Inflation Reduction Act.\n\nA fact-sheet of the Offshore Energy Modernization Act can be found HERE.\n\nText of the bill can be found HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3779", "Tonko Heralds Passage of National Heritage Area Act", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Paul Tonko", "T000469", "tonko.house.gov", "tonko", "https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014Congressman Paul D. Tonko today cheered the passage of his bipartisan National Heritage Area Act in the House of Representatives. Tonko\u2019s bipartisan legislation, which he introduced alongside Rep. David McKinley (R-WV), tackles the current patchwork system for maintaining National Heritage Areas by reauthorizing all Areas for the next 15 years and establishing clear, transparent standards that make it easier for communities and local partnerships to develop and maintain the Heritage Areas they cherish.\n\nThe bill passed the Senate earlier this week and will be sent to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\n\u201cOur heritage areas help preserve and protect sites of cultural, historical, and natural significance, shining a light on local communities across the country,\u201d Congressman Tonko said. \u201cThese sites also serve as key economic drivers for their regions, attracting tourism and economic activity that pays dividends. But despite their importance to the fabric of our communities, there is no standardized process for administering National Heritage Areas, which has resulted in inconsistent oversight and hindered many areas from flourishing. My National Heritage Area Act secures a stable foundation of federal support for these partnerships, streamlines bureaucracy, and puts the sites themselves on the strongest possible footing for the future. After years partnering with my friend Congressman David McKinley to deliver for these cherished sites, I\u2019m humbled to lead my colleagues in sending this bill to President Biden\u2019s desk. I am grateful to the stakeholders and dedicated advocates who have been with us every step of the way to ensure Americans across our nation can enjoy these treasured sites for many years to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cNational Heritage Areas help preserve our history, increase tourism, and spur economic development and job growth. We\u2019ve seen this firsthand in West Virginia with the creation of the Wheeling and Appalachian Forest Heritage Areas. The National Heritage Area Act will create standard criteria and rules for the creation and management of these public-private partnerships. I\u2019m proud to lead this bill and have worked to support the mission of National Heritage Areas during my time in Congress,\u201d said Rep. David McKinley (R-WV).\n\n\u201cCongressman Tonko is an enduring champion of heritage-based revitalization strategies in communities across New York State and the nation. Through his steadfast leadership, national heritage areas will be assured of consistent federal support while they simultaneously leverage investments from their respective states, local municipalities and the private sector, resulting in an improved quality of life for residents and increased economic benefits from recreational and cultural tourism,\u201d said Bob Radliff, Executive Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.\n\n\u201cNational Heritage Areas, like ours in the Hudson Valley, are not only vital to this nation\u2019s economy but are critical to the true telling of America\u2019s story through the preservation of its historic and cultural sites. We are grateful to all of those in Congress who supported this act, especially our Hudson Valley delegation led by Congressman Tonko,\u201d said Meg Downey, co-chair, Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area.\n\n\u201cThe National Heritage Area Act is a testament to the tremendous work National Heritage Areas do within communities across America. It is a direct reflection of the determination and resilience that is not only the bedrock of National Heritage Areas, but also the history of the places and people National Heritage Areas represent. The Alliance of National Heritage Areas is profoundly grateful for the tireless leadership and support we have received on a bipartisan basis within Congress today and look forward to serving our communities for an additional 15 years,\u201d said Sara Capen, Chairwoman, Alliance of National Heritage Areas.\n\n\u201cAcross the country, communities are working to protect patches of America\u2019s diverse history from being altered or lost forever. In the nick of time, Congress came together in a bipartisan fashion to give these communities the leg up they deserve. Establishing a new system for National Heritage Areas will help breathe new life into the historic preservation movement in America. Our history, complicated as it may be, serves as a rallying point for Americans of different backgrounds and ideologies. This piece of legislation exemplifies what our country can do when we stand together to protect our shared legacy,\u201d said Alan Spears, Senior Director for Cultural Resources for National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA).\n\nHeritage areas are a major contributor to American cultural tourism, which the U.S. Department of Commerce estimates contributes more than $192 billion to the U.S. economy every year. There are currently 55 National Heritage Areas nationwide, including the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Corridor in our Capital Region. Without congressional action, 45 Heritage Areas would sunset in the next two years.\n\nH.R. 1316/S. 1942 the National Heritage Area Act:\n\n\u00b7 Provides our nation\u2019s 55 Areas with certainty and predictability by extending their authorization for 15 years\n\n\u00b7 Establishes a streamlined process for the foundation, designation, and management of new National Heritage Areas\n\n\u00b7 Designates several new Heritage Areas and authorizes new Heritage Area studies\n\nCongressman Tonko has long been a champion for National Heritage Areas. He co-chairs the National Heritage Area Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives along with Rep. David McKinley (R-WV) and serves on the Committee on Natural Resources and its Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-announces-over-108-billion-to-launch-first-of-their-kind-initiatives-created-in-chips-and-science-bill-includes-largest_increase-to-national-science-foundation-in-history-and--to-launch-the-first-ever-regional-tech-and-innovation-hub-competition-schumer-pushes-to-get-money-to-upstate-ny", "SCHUMER ANNOUNCES OVER $10.8 BILLION TO LAUNCH FIRST-OF-THEIR KIND INITIATIVES CREATED IN CHIPS AND SCIENCE BILL; INCLUDES LARGEST $ INCREASE TO NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION IN HISTORY, AND $$ TO...", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Schumer\u2019s Historic CHIPS & Science Bill Has Already Spurred Thousands Of Jobs In Upstate NY- And Now He\u2019s Secured First Major Down Payment Bringing Unprecedented New Investment For STEM Job Training, Strengthening Manufacturing, And Creating Regional Tech And Innovation Hubs Competition\n\nNew Funds Will Help Prepare New York Workers For Semiconductor & Other Tech And Manufacturing Careers, Revitalize Economically Distressed Areas, Attract New Businesses, And Supercharge Research At Universities With NSF Funding\n\nSchumer: New Historic Fed Investment In Tech Hubs, Science And Manufacturing Will Lay Foundation For Upstate NY Workers To Build The Future Of Technology\n\nWith his historic CHIPS and Science Bill already spurring major investment across Upstate New York, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today revealed that the just announced, end-of-year spending bill expected to pass later this week provides $10.8 billion in federal investment for key programs in the CHIPS and Science Act, including $1.8 billion in increased funding, compared to last year, to implement major provisions from his legislation that are key to supercharging the Upstate innovation economy.\n\nThis includes the largest dollar increase for the National Science Foundation in history, the launch of the Regional Technology & Innovation Hub program, expansion of manufacturing programs, and STEM education and training programs to help prepare the next generation of Upstate NY workers for the good-paying jobs spurred by his legislation, all of which will help further establish Upstate as an emerging global tech ecosystem.\n\n\u201cI just secured the largest increase in history, over $1 billion, for the National Science Foundation which is going to help jumpstart R&D and STEM workforce training to help prepare the next generation of Upstate New Yorkers to out-compete China and position Upstate New York to lead in the innovation economy. This is the first major down payment to implement key provisions from my CHIPS and Science Bill for Upstate New York, which will bolster cutting-edge research, rebuilds domestic supply chains, and give workers the technical skills to bring manufacturing back to America and build the future in places like Upstate NY,\u201d said Senator Schumer.\n\nSchumer added, \u201cThis funding also will finally kick off the Regional Tech Hubs program I created in my CHIPS and Science Bill, and originally proposed in my Endless Frontier Act, specifically with Upstate New York in mind. Now communities can begin planning to compete for major federal investment, and you can bet I will be fighting to deliver this and other federal funding from these programs to Upstate New York.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, Schumer explained that this $10.8 billion in funding includes:\n\n$9.87 billion for the National Science Foundation: The omnibus includes an increase of over $1 billion for the NSF, the largest dollar increase for NSF in history. Schumer said that Upstate universities and community colleges will be able to utilize this new investment for workforce training, including technical training programs key to supporting the emerging semiconductor industry in Upstate NY with the arrival of major projects like Micron in Central New York, Wolfspeed at the Marcy Nanocenter, and Edwards Vacuum at STAMP, along with expansion of GlobalFoundries and other manufacturing companies in the chip and clean energy industries, all of which will require a large workforce pool. This surge of funding will also be important to preparing underrepresented populations for these good-paying jobs, and to translating more research at the state\u2019s universities and labs into new businesses. Additionally, this funding will support the continued implementation of the NSF\u2019s new Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships Directorate, originally proposed in Schumer\u2019s Endless Frontier Act, to keep the U.S. on the cutting-edge of research and entrepreneurship in key industries like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors, and advanced energy.\n\n$500 million to begin implementation of the Regional Technology and Innovation Hub (\u201cTech Hubs\u201d) Program: This funding will provide planning grants and an initial round of implementation awards to create regional technology hubs, focusing on economic development, job creation, and expanding U.S. innovation capacity. Schumer\u2019s CHIPS and Science bill created the Regional Technology Hubs program to build up major technology hubs across the country to lead in research, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship in key industries, with places like Upstate NY in mind, and this funding represents the first major down payment to this program becoming a reality and allowing Upstate communities to compete for major federal investment to bring manufacturing back to America.\n\n$200 million for the Recompete Pilot Program: Through Schumer\u2019s leadership on the CHIPS and Science bill, Congress created the Recompete Pilot Program, which authorizes the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to make comprehensive economic development investments in economically distressed communities. This new funding will establish grants to empower distressed communities to develop, implement, and carry out economic development strategies and create jobs.\n\n$188 million for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program (MEP): This program is a national network of affiliated manufacturing extension centers and field offices located in all fifty states and territories that work to improve the competitiveness of domestic manufacturers to strengthen domestic supply chains. MEP funding supports New York State\u2019s network of 11 MEP Centers that work directly with small and medium-sized manufacturing firms throughout the state, working to cultivate the growth of the high-tech industry and help small manufactures expand.\n\n$51 million for the Manufacturing USA program: This funding will create at least one new Manufacturing USA institute to drive innovation and expand American manufacturing in key industries. The Manufacturing USA program is a public-private partnership with 14 manufacturing institutes across the nation, including AIM Photonics in Albany and Rochester, RAPID in New York City, and the REMADE Institute in Rochester, that connect companies, academic institutions, nonprofits, and local, state and federal entities to solve industry-relevant advanced manufacturing challenges in technology and help expand manufacturing in the U.S.\n\nSchumer has been the leading champion of bringing tech manufacturing back to America and Upstate New York in particular. Going back to 2019,Schumer proposed a major tech investment \u201cmoon shot\u201d in cutting-edge technologies like semiconductors to out-compete China. Schumer then spent the next three years working to pass into law this vision \u2013 ultimately manifesting itself into the CHIPS and Science Act, which makes a generational investment in innovation and manufacturing, including providing over $76 billion in new federal incentives for microchip manufacturing and research and development in the U.S.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gillibrand-announce-15-million-in-funding-package-for-albany-city-hall-restoration-and-renovation", "SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE $1.5 MILLION IN FUNDING PACKAGE FOR ALBANY CITY HALL RESTORATION AND RENOVATION", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand revealed that the City of Albany will receive $1.5 million in funding from the omnibus funding package for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 to be used for the Albany City Hall Restoration & Renovation, Phase I and Phase II. The omnibus is expected to pass Congress and be signed into law this week.\n\nThe funding will be used to kick off the engineering, design, and permitting phase of the renovation, allowing the City of Albany to issue bids and collect detailed cost estimates from qualified firms. A preliminary existing condition study was already commissioned in order to understand which repairs are necessary for City Hall, and an architectural firm study has confirmed the urgency of carrying out roof repairs and exterior facade restoration.\n\n\u201cAlbany\u2019s historic City Hall is the beating heart of the Empire State\u2019s capital dating all the way back to 1883, but weather and age have caused much of its exterior fa\u00e7ade to deteriorate. That is why I am proud to announce that we have secured $1.5 million so the City of Albany can finally begin the renovation process for this iconic landmark,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cThis funding will help breathe new life into this treasured piece of New York history, and ensure this pride and joy of Albany can continue to be enjoyed for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cMy hometown of Albany has a beautiful City Hall, but deferred maintenance has unfortunately led to visible deterioration in some areas of the building,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cI am proud to have helped secure this funding, which will enable the City of Albany to begin the engineering and design phase of this critical renovation project. I am optimistic Albany\u2019s City Hall will be restored to her former glory.\u201d\n\nAlbany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said, \u201cIn 1885, Albany City Hall was listed by American Architect and Building News as one of the \u2018Best Ten Buildings in the United States.\u2019 While it has housed our city government for nearly 140 years, decades of deferred maintenance coupled with scores of northeast winters have required a complete renovation of the roof and building envelope. Thanks to the leadership and advocacy of Senate Majority Leader Schumer and Senator Gillibrand, this $1.5 million grant will help return the building to its former glory and ensure it is a place Albany residents can continue to be proud of for years to come.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gillibrand-announce-2-million-for-auburn-community-hospital-secured-in-just-announced-end-of-year-spending-package-to-boost-the-expansion-of-the-hospital-as-it-builds-its-new-cancer-center-and-purchases-essential-medical-equipment-to-help-fight-cancer-in-cayuga-county", "SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE $2 MILLION FOR AUBURN COMMUNITY HOSPITAL SECURED IN JUST ANNOUNCED END-OF-YEAR SPENDING PACKAGE TO BOOST THE EXPANSION OF THE HOSPITAL AS IT BUILDS ITS NEW CANCER CENTER...", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today revealed that Auburn Community Hospital will receive $2 million in the just announced end-of-year spending packaged to purchase essential medical equipment for cancer diagnostics and boost the expansion of the hospital as it breaks ground on its new state-of-the-art cancer center.\n\n\u201cAuburn Community Hospital will soon have a modern, state-of-the art cancer treatment center, and now thanks to funding we secured in the federal budget they will purchase lifesaving medical equipment \u2013like a new PET-CT Scanner,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cCancer is one of the leading causes of death in Cayuga County and this new center will be a one-stop shop to help patients get the top-notch care they need in their own community. I am proud to deliver this funding to Auburn Community Hospital so that our doctors can have the support they need and the people of Cayuga County can have the cancer treatment center they have long needed and deserved.\u201d\n\n\u201cAuburn Community Hospital provides lifesaving care to cancer patients in and around Auburn,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cToday, I\u2019m proud to be delivering $2 million in funding to ensure that the hospital\u2019s new cancer center can purchase the cutting-edge technology it needs to provide the best possible care. I\u2019ll keep fighting to bring federal dollars to hospitals and health care facilities in Auburn and across New York.\u201d\n\n\u201cOn behalf of Auburn Community Hospital (ACH), and our community, we couldn\u2019t be more appreciative of the hard work Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand put forth to secure this $2M appropriation. This funding will allow ACH to purchase state-of- the- art medical technology and make building improvements that will support our new Cancer Center. The new Cancer Center will provide necessary care for the leading cause of premature death in Cayuga County. The Center will provide essential care for the local community that they would otherwise have to travel long distances for and will increase employment. Senator Schumer understood the need and worked diligently to secure this appropriation\u201d, stated Scott Berlucchi, President & CEO Auburn Community Hospital.\n\nThe senators explained that Auburn Community Hospital is building a new 12,000 sq. ft. cancer center that just broke ground last month. Currently, 80% of residents in Cayuga County have to travel greater than 25 miles for medical oncology services. This long overdue major expansion will add radiation oncology services and many other lifesaving cancer treatments and diagnostic services close to home for members of the community .\n\nThe federal funding Schumer and Gillibrand secured as a congressionally directed spending request in the FY23 budget set to pass later this week will help support and facilitate this new expansion. Specifically, helping the hospitals with key infrastructure and renovations like adding critical new parking spots to accommodate the increased patient load, as well as helping purchase a new PET-CT Scanner for pre-diagnostic testing. The PET-CT scanner will allow doctors, especially cancer surgeons, to determine the exact location of a tumor in relation to an organ or spinal column.\n\nSchumer and Gillibrand have a long history of fighting for Auburn Community Hospital. Earlier this year, Schumer personally called on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra to help successfully secure over $3.4 million in long overdue federal funding to help the hospital make up from budget shortfalls from the pandemic after it had previously been held up in bureaucratic red tape.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gillibrand-announce-nearly-14-million-for-buffalo-and-western-ny-projects-secured-in-the-soon-to-pass-end-of-year-spending-bill-including-funding-to-combat-food-insecurity-complete-community-hub-in-niagara-falls-boost-infrastructure-and-transportation-across-western-ny", "SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE NEARLY $14 MILLION FOR BUFFALO & WESTERN NY PROJECTS SECURED IN THE SOON-TO-PASS END-OF-YEAR SPENDING BILL; INCLUDING FUNDING TO COMBAT FOOD INSECURITY, COMPLETE COMMUNITY...", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today revealed that Western New York will receive nearly $14 million in funding from the soon-to-pass omnibus end-of-year spending package for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 for critical local projects.\n\n\u201cFrom bolstering our facilities at the Niagara Air Base, to combatting food insecurity through organizations like FeedMore WNY to building up infrastructure on Main Street to helping area residents get the skills they need for good-paying jobs, this federal funding will help address many of the core issues facing Buffalo and Western New York communities,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cI am proud to deliver this $14 million boost for community-driven projects across WNY. I will always fight to bring home federal dollars to give Western NY the support it needs.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is a critical investment that will help revitalize Western New York,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cToday, we are committing to putting millions toward fighting hunger, upgrading infrastructure, and promoting economic development. I\u2019m proud to have fought to secure this funding and I\u2019ll continue to work tirelessly to make sure Western New York\u2019s families, workers, and businesses have what they need to thrive.\u201d\n\nThe senators personally secured funding for these projects as congressionally directed spending requests and said that these projects include:\n\n$2,000,000 for FeedMore WNY for a Facility Expansion:\n\nThis funding will cover planning costs for a large-scale expansion that is expected to more than double the current capacity and office space allowing for FeedMore WNY to significantly bolster their operations, boost productivity, and improve logistics, all with a focus on helping to better combat hunger in Western NY. In 2021, FeedMore WNY distributed enough food to provide 12.8 million meals to Western New York neighbors in need.\n\n$2,800,000 for the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station (ARS) for Combined Operations Alert Facility:\n\nThis funding will cover design costs for planning and design money for a joint operations facility, consolidating several major functions at the Niagara Falls International Airport. The existing 914 presence is geographically spread across Niagara ARS in several buildings, none of which are located on the flightline. Being spread across multiple facilities and with no significant access to the flightline hampers command and control, makes coordinated training more difficult and less efficient. This project will help boost response times by consolidating operation into the new combined operations alert facility.\n\n$2,000,000 for University at Buffalo for Smart Public Transportation Infrastructure in the City of Buffalo:\n\nThis funding will build smart transportation infrastructure along Main Street in the City of Buffalo and around the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC). The infrastructure will be used to develop and test an accessible, self-driving shuttle (SDS) that utilizes AI-powered, open-source autonomous driving software to improve mobility and accessibility, especially for underserved populations, people with disabilities, and the elderly.\n\n$2,000,000 for Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center for Precise Diagnostic Technology:\n\nThis funding will allow for implementation of a new, more advanced radiation treatment technique called Adaptive Radiation Therapy. Adaptive Radiation Therapy is a form of radiation treatment that allows even greater precision by reassessing the status of the tumor daily and adjusting the treatment plan to maximize effectiveness for cancer treatment.\n\n$1,500,000 for Preservation of the First Presbyterian Church in Allentown, Buffalo for Preservation, Restoration Measures:\n\nThis funding will cover major repairs on a Buffalo building, which is a contributing element of the Allentown Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, that has unfortunately begun to severely deteriorate due to weather and age. Specifically, the project will help replace the slate roof on the building's east side and perform other repairs to maintain the integrity of the building's exterior envelope, repair roof tiles on the stone tower, and other essential renovations to ensure this building can continue to be enjoyed for generations to come.\n\n$1,400,000 for Niagara University to boost the Academic Innovation Hub in Downtown Niagara Falls:\n\nThis funding will help complete the Academic Innovation Hub in downtown Niagara Falls. The Hub will function as a community education space and will provide residents with opportunities to attend speaker events, concerts, art shows, and community meetings. In addition, it will also help strengthen local workforce development opportunities, childhood education, and other education programming so underserved residents can gain industry-recognized credentials to secure jobs and advance their careers.\n\n$900,000 for Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority for Niagara Falls International Airport Renovations:\n\nThis funding will complete design work required to bring the realignment and extension of Taxiway D to construction. The project will support and align with a Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station project to extend the main runway at Niagara Falls International Airport.\n\n$750,000 Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens Society for Expansion Project:\n\nThis funding will cover costs for a 33,000 square foot addition to the Botanical Gardens\u2019 historic 121-year old Conservatory to expand their education, exhibition, grow houses, and event spaces which are currently at capacity. Federal funds will support the capital costs of the expansion, helping to increase the Botanical Gardens\u2019 service to the community, improve safety and accessibility for visitors, and boosting the economic impact for the region.\n\n$440,000 for Town of Pomfret to Construct a New Town Hall:\n\nThis funding will allow for the purchase and renovation of an existing vacant building to serve as a new Town Hall which will help address the current lack of appropriate space for all of the Town's functions.\n\n$250,000 for University at Buffalo for Renewable Hydrogen Research and Development:\n\nThis funding will build U.S. research and development capacity, speed the investment in and deployment of hydrogen-related industries in upstate New York, seed three new university-industry collaborations, and advance the readiness of three hydrogen-based technologies. Development and infrastructure investments in hydrogen feedstock, production, and end-users will improve U.S. competitiveness in the global marketplace and provide export customers for hydrogen and its downstream products.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gillibrand-announce-over-46-million-secured-in-end-of-year-spending-bill-to-expand-affordable-childcare-in-ogdensburg-increase-affordable-housing-and-revitalize-downtown-canton", "SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE OVER $4.6 MILLION SECURED IN END-OF-YEAR SPENDING BILL TO EXPAND AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE IN OGDENSBURG, INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN CANTON", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the North Country will receive over $4.6 million in funding from the omnibus end-of-year spending package for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 to help bolster economic development in downtown Canton, boost affordable housing, and expand desperately needed affordable childcare services in Ogdensburg.\n\n\u201cFrom helping directly address childcare desserts in Ogdensburg to breathing new life into our Main Streets in downtown Canton, these projects get to the heart of issues facing the North Country today,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cThis over $4.6 million in funding means good-paying jobs, affordable housing, attracting new businesses and giving North Country families the support they need. I am proud to have secured these significant investments to build up the future of the region and I will always fight to bring home federal dollars to the North Country.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is a critical investment that will help revitalize the North Country,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cToday, we are committing to putting millions toward building affordable housing, supporting local businesses, strengthening the healthcare infrastructure, and helping parents afford child care. I\u2019m proud to have fought to secure this funding and I\u2019ll work tirelessly to make sure North Country families, workers, and businesses have what they need to thrive.\u201d\n\nThe senators personally secured funding for these projects as congressionally directed spending requests, descriptions for the projects can be found below:\n\n$ 2,641,000 to the Canton College Foundation for their Canton Midtown Plaza Redevelopment Project.\n\nThis project will take an underutilized and derelict shopping center in the heart of downtown Canton and transform it into three floors of much-needed commercial and residential space, including 44 residential units and the anchor of the project, the SUNY Canton Entrepreneurship Center. This project addresses three pressing needs in the North Country, increased economic development, commercial revitalization of city\u2019s downtown, and access to quality downtown housing.\n\n$2,100,000 to the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority for their Childcare Center Project.\n\nThis project will help ensure parents have access to affordable, high-quality childcare in Ogdensburg, as currently there aren\u2019t any providers in town. This will also ensure that businesses are able to attract and retain talent and the region can attract investments from new businesses, aiding the local economy.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://espaillat.house.gov/media/press-releases/espaillat-garc%C3%ADa-norton-pressley-keating-applaud-inclusion-800-million-asylum", "ESPAILLAT, GARC\u00cdA, NORTON, PRESSLEY, KEATING, APPLAUD INCLUSION OF $800 MILLION IN ASYLUM SEEKER AID IN 2023 GOVERNMENT FUNDING BILL", "2022-12-21", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Adriano Espaillat", "E000297", "espaillat.house.gov", "espaillat", "https://espaillat.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), along with Congressman Jes\u00fas G. \u201cChuy\u201d Garc\u00eda (IL-04), Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Congressman Bill Keating (MA-09), and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) applaud House and Senate Appropriations leadership for including $800 million to provide shelter, food and supportive services to individuals and families experiencing hunger or homelessness, and allowing humanitarian assistance to migrant families and individuals encountered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The funds will aid in expanding shelter capacity, and provide mental health services, adequate food, and appropriate legal services that are critical in supporting asylum seekers with legal counsel and other necessary services to facilitate a smooth process. The new grant program is to be administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as grants or cooperative agreements with state and local governments and NGOs, including up to $50 million for construction and expansion of shelter facilities. The majority of the funds are to be made available through the existing FEMA Emergency Food and Shelter Program until transition to the new Shelter and Services grant program is complete.\n\nSince March of this year, safe haven cities such as Philadelphia, New York City, the District of Columbia, Chicago, and Boston have experienced increased demand for safe and secure shelter. These locations have experienced an influx of asylum seekers from Latin America, predominately from Venezuela, who are fleeing a government that has engaged in \"crimes against humanity,\" including the use of torture and sexual violence to repress dissent.\n\n\"The inclusion of $800 million in the omnibus federal funding package will help bolster our efforts to support local shelter cities and ensure municipalities have the capacity and bandwidth to support vulnerable individuals and families when they need our help the most,\" said Congressman Espaillat. \"Migration from Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Colombia is a longstanding issue, and there is no question that Republicans have weaponized this issue. However, we have a moral obligation to answer this call to action, and this funding is part of our whole of government approach, from federal, city and state efforts to ensure asylum seekers have the support and resources needed during this critical time in their lives and for our nation.\"\n\n\u201cI am pleased to see increased funding for the FEMA Emergency Food and Shelter Program included in the government funding package,\u201d said Congressman Garc\u00eda. \u201cMy colleagues and I heavily advocated for these funds to urgently provide aid to families in need. Robust funding for this program will alleviate the pressures that community organizations have been facing for months. However, it is incumbent upon us as legislators, to address the root causes of migration and work on meaningful immigration reform. As we move into the 118th Congress, I strongly urge Republicans to stop playing political games with people\u2019s lives and come to the table next year with humane immigration proposals that honor our values as a nation of immigrants.\u201d\n\n\"I am pleased that the omnibus appropriations bill released last night includes $800 million for FEMA's Emergency Food and Shelter Program for humanitarian assistance for vulnerable migrants,\" Congresswoman Norton said. \"After this year's series of cynical political stunts in which governors from across the country bused migrants to large cities, including D.C., this humanitarian assistance was badly needed.\"\n\n\"Our communities have risen to the challenge by welcoming and supporting migrants, but this has come at a cost to state and local governments and local non-profits,\" said Congressman Bill Keating. \"This $800 million in funding for the Department of Homeland Security will ensure that migrants have access to the necessities and humanitarian assistance they need directly through DHS.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3772", "Tonko Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act to be Made Law", "2022-12-21", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Paul Tonko", "T000469", "tonko.house.gov", "tonko", "https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014Congressman Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) cheered the inclusion of his bipartisan Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act in the federal funding package expected to be made law this week. The MAT Act eliminates the redundant requirement that practitioners apply for a separate waiver through the DEA to prescribe buprenorphine for substance use disorder treatment.\n\n\u201cThe overdose crisis has touched so many of us and left countless communities across our nation irreparably damaged,\u201d Congressman Tonko said. \u201cFor years, I\u2019ve worked to address this disease of addiction and secure access to lifesaving treatments for the millions of Americans currently struggling. A lynchpin of my efforts has long been my MAT Act that would eliminate and outdated, bureaucratic barrier preventing practitioners from prescribing the proven treatment, buprenorphine, to their patients. After years working to pave a path forward for this lifesaving bill, it will finally be made law. My deepest gratitude to Congressman Turner for championing this bill alongside me, and thanks to my colleagues and the many dedicated advocates who have worked to get this legislation done.\u201d\n\n\"The Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act is a beacon of hope to families and loved ones struggling with substance use disorder. This legislation will open the doors of recovery to millions of Americans by ensuring that those in need have access to life-saving treatment that prevents overdoses. The MAT Act represents a fundamental shift in how our country approaches substance use disorder. It will reduce stigma and integrate treatment into the health care system, where it belongs. We would not have the MAT Act without Rep. Tonko's tireless commitment to expand access to affordable, high-quality treatment. Thanks to Rep. Tonko, countless lives will be saved,\u201d said Erin Schanning, president of End Substance Use Disorder and a big sister who lost her little brother, Ethan, to an overdose.\n\n\u201cThe MAT Act has garnered broad support on Capitol Hill because it is commonsense and due to the efforts of tireless champions like Congressman Tonko. This bill will save lives, so we\u2019re excited to see it included in the omnibus legislation. To end the overdose crisis, we need to ensure that effective, evidence-based treatment is available to all who want it,\u201d said Libby Jones, Project Director of the Overdose Prevention Initiative at the Global Health Advocacy Incubator.\n\n\"Buprenorphine is a highly effective medication that can help people with opioid use disorder live normal, productive lives. Outdated restrictions have long made it difficult for health care providers to prescribe the medication and for patients to access it. The MAT Act will expand availability of evidence-based treatment during a critical time in the opioid crisis, and we applaud Congress for taking this much-needed step forward,\u201d said Sheri Doyle, senior manager, Substance Use Prevention and Treatment Initiative, The Pew Charitable Trusts.\n\n\u201cWe at People\u2019s Action thank Rep. Paul Tonko for his steadfast leadership to see the MAT Act over the finish line. Rep. Tonko has been along with us every step of the way - from speaking at our events, to meeting with our cohort leaders, to fighting tooth and nail in the halls of congress. This victory proves the power of organizing people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities. Together we can end the overdose crisis,\u201d said Ellen Glover Drug Policy, Harm Reduction & Criminal Justice campaign director at People\u2019s Action.\n\n\"We are pleased to see the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act included in the FY 2023 omnibus spending bill. We applaud Representative Tonko for his steadfast leadership and urge Congress to pass this legislation that will expand access to lifesaving treatment and reduce stigma,\" said Maeghan Gilmore, Vice President, Government Affairs, Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness.\n\n\"Eliminating the 'X-waiver' is another critical step in combating our nation's opioid crisis, giving emergency physicians on the frontlines of this epidemic more opportunities to care for and treat those suffering from substance use disorders and, most importantly, help them on their path to recovery. This action by Congress was a welcome and needed next step to reducing stigma and breaking down some longstanding barriers for safer, effective, and commonsense opioid use disorder treatment. We are deeply grateful to Reps. Tonko and Turner for their outstanding and tireless bipartisan advocacy on this issue, and sincerely appreciate the opportunity to partner in this important effort, \u201d said Christopher S. Kang, MD, FACEP, president of ACEP.\n\n\u201cOn behalf of our nation\u2019s pharmacists, we applaud Representative Tonko for his leadership in passing this important legislation, which is a common-sense solution that removes restrictions on prescribers of buprenorphine to allow health care providers, including many pharmacists, to have greater involvement in treating patients with opioid use disorder. This is a huge win for pharmacists and the patients we serve,\u201d stated Ilisa Bernstein, PharmD, JD, FAPhA, interim executive vice president and CEO of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA).\n\nAfter France took similar action to make buprenorphine available without a specialized waiver, overdose deaths declined by 79 percent over a four-year period.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/eight-months-after-his-in-person-promise-schumer-delivers-75-million-in-end-of-year-spending-bill-to-fund-repairs-and-help-restore-buffalos-uss-the-sullivans-ensuring-the-beloved-landmark-will-remain-in-buffalos-naval-park-for-generations-to-come-", "EIGHT MONTHS AFTER HIS IN-PERSON PROMISE, SCHUMER DELIVERS $7.5 MILLION IN END-OF-YEAR SPENDING BILL TO FUND REPAIRS & HELP RESTORE BUFFALO\u2019S USS THE SULLIVANS, ENSURING THE BELOVED LANDMARK WILL...", "2022-12-21", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Earlier This Year Buffalo\u2019s Treasured WWII Naval Museum Ship Started Sinking After A Serious Hull Breach; Schumer Immediately Came To Buffalo And Began Working To Develop An All Hands On Deck Approach To Save WNY Landmark, Which Honors The Five Sullivan Brothers Who All Died While Serving Together During WWII\n\nSenator Promised He\u2019d Secure Robust Funding To Give Financial Lifeboat The USS The Sullivans Needed To Assist with Critical Repairs \u2013 Now, Just In Time For Christmas \u2013 Schumer Announces The Funding Will Be Included In The Must-Pass Spending Bill This Week\n\nSchumer: It\u2019s Full Steam Ahead For Restoring The USS The Sullivans\n\nAfter standing in front of the sinking ship and promising to help restore the USS The Sullivans earlier this year, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced that the must-pass end-of-year spending bill will include $7.5 million to fund the repairs of the iconic WWII Western New York landmark to help bring it back to tip-top condition at Canalside.\n\n\u201cI stood in front of the USS The Sullivans as it started to sink into the harbor and promised I would get all hands on deck to get the funding we needed to restore this pride and joy for Buffalo, our veterans, and strong Irish-American community. I am proud to say a promise made is now a promise kept, and funding will soon be on the way to help restore this iconic Western New York landmark, which honors the tragic loss of the five Sullivan brothers,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cEarlier this year the waters ahead looked rocky and rough, but I knew this ship and all it stands for meant too much to Buffalo to let it sink into the abyss. The $7.5 million I have secured in the spending bill, which will pass this week, will give the community the robust financial support it needs to help fund repairs so this beloved vessel can continue to be admired for generations to come. I am happy to deliver this early Christmas present to Buffalo\u2019s Naval Park and to have steered the USS The Sullivans onto a safer waters with a brighter future on the horizon.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis investment will secure the USS Sullivans place in Buffalo\u2019s Naval and Military Park for generations to come,\u201d said Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown. \u201cI want to thank Senator Schumer for securing this funding to preserve the Jewel of the City\u2019s Buffalo Naval and Military Park for all to enjoy.\u201d\n\nPaul J. Marzello Sr., President & CEO of the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park said, \u201cWe are extremely grateful to Senator Schumer for his commitment to Saving the Sullivans. As a National Historic Landmark, her value extends beyond the boundaries of the WNY community. Her value is measured in the lives of the five Sullivan brothers who the ship is named after and every Veteran who has ever served this nation. With gratitude from all, thank you for providing the funding to help preserve this ship for generations to come\u201d\n\nImmediately after the USS The Sullivans began sinking, Schumer came to Buffalo and stood outside the sinking ship to pledge his support to the veteran and Western New York community to help get the federal funding to repair the landmark. The funding will go directly to ensuring this beloved vessel can be restored and remain on permanent display at the Buffalo Naval and Military Park. Specifically, $2.5 million of the funding will come from the National Park Service\u2019s Historic Preservation Fund and $5 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development\u2019s Community Development Fund as congressionally directed spending. Schumer initially secured the funding over the summer and now it will be included in the must pass end of the year spending bill, expected to be voted on later this week. Specifically, the funding will go to ensuring the long term structural integrity of the hull of the ship and making repairs to the hull and interior that were severely damaged which caused the ship to fill with water earlier this year. A ship architect and crew arrived in Buffalo last week and are collecting data on USS The Sullivans and developing comprehensive preservation plan for the repair of the museum ship.\n\nCommissioned in 1943, the USS The Sullivans operated in the Pacific Theater during World War II and is one of four remaining Fletcher-class destroyers left in the world. The ship is named in honor of the working-class Irish-American family that lost all five of its sons during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942. It was decommissioned in 1965 and donated in 1977 to the City of Buffalo, where it remains a National Historic Landmark and has served as a memorial and museum ship ever since.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-delivers-24-million-for-peekskill-to-transform-abandoned-fire-station-into-new-commercial-kitchen-food-incubator-creating-new-jobs-attracting-new-businesses-and-growing-the-hudson-valleys-flourishing-food-economy", "SCHUMER DELIVERS $2.4 MILLION FOR PEEKSKILL TO TRANSFORM ABANDONED FIRE STATION INTO NEW COMMERCIAL KITCHEN FOOD INCUBATOR CREATING NEW JOBS, ATTRACTING NEW BUSINESSES, AND GROWING THE HUDSON VALLEY\u2019S...", "2022-12-21", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Schumer Says Funding Will Breathe New Life Into The Old Centennial Hose Municipal Fire Station By Establishing A State-Of-The-Art Culinary Incubator For Local Businesses\n\nNew Food Industry Hub Will Establish A Space For Entrepreneurs To Grow Their Businesses, Create New Jobs, And Foster New Workforce Partnerships With Hospitality Industry\n\nSchumer: Fed Investment Will Help Cook Up Jobs And New Business Opportunities In The Hudson Valley!\n\nU.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced that the Peekskill Facilities Development Corporation has been awarded a $2.4 million grant through the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to transform an abandoned fire station into the new Peekskill Commercial Kitchen Food Incubator. Schumer said that this funding will support the renovations of the space so that entrepreneurs can have the facilities and equipment they need to grow their businesses in the Hudson Valley, creating new jobs and strengthening the region\u2019s growing culinary community.\n\n\u201cI am proud to deliver this new federal investment to help Peekskill cook up new jobs by transforming the abandoned former Peekskill firehouse into a one-stop shop \u2013 the new Peekskill Commercial Kitchen Food Incubator \u2013 for entrepreneurs to grow their food businesses right here in the Hudson Valley. This $2.4 million in federal funding will create a new state-of-the-art culinary incubator in the City of Peekskill and reinvest in the city\u2019s vibrant restaurant and hospitality industries that took a major hit during the pandemic. The new Peekskill Commercial Kitchen Food Incubator will not only support Westchester entrepreneurs and its growing culinary industry, but it also can create new partnerships with local farm networks to source locally-grown ingredients.\u201d said Senator Schumer.\n\nWestchester County Executive George Latimer said, \u201cOnce again, Senator Schumer is coming through for Westchester County. As we have championed through our County\u2019s Economic Development Office led by Bridget Gibbons, incubators are a game-changing approach to building small businesses in our community. With devoted entrepreneurs and governmental bodies that support them, these start-ups create jobs, boost our local economy and have the potential to expand into major corporations. We thank the Senate Majority Leader for his efforts and congratulate the City of Peekskill on this excitement announcement.\u201d\n\n\u201cThanks to the advocacy of Senator Schumer and the tremendous work of the Peekskill Industrial Development Agency (IDA) and the Peekskill Facilities Development Corporation, the City of Peekskill secured a $2.4 million EDA grant that will lead to the construction of this revolutionary, cutting-edge culinary incubator and will help transform our historic city\u2019s economy,\u201d said Peekskill Mayor Vivian McKenzie. \u201cThe Peekskill Commercial Kitchen Food Incubator will stir up major economic development, new businesses, and new jobs while creating a destination to revitalize downtown.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the project will support the renovation of the old Centennial Hose Municipal Fire Station for adaptive reuse, strengthening the region\u2019s food infrastructure and enabling small and new businesses to access shared facilities, training opportunities, equipment, and the technical assistance they need to grow and thrive. The former firehouse totals 8,000 square feet, including a 2,400-square-foot, two-bay garage. After the adaptive reuse conversion is completed, the 4,500-square-foot commercial kitchen portion of the building would house five, fully-equipped and licensed commercial kitchens, complete with stations for prep, storage, packaging, shipping, and receiving, along with office space. \u201cSupport facilities\u201d in the incubator would include entrepreneurship programming and workforce skills development, emphasizing food-business-oriented training and work-and-learn training\n\nThe federal funding supporting this project was secured through the Schumer-championed American Rescue Plan Economic Adjustment Assistance grant program through the U.S. Economic Development Administration, and will be matched with nearly $600,000 in local funds. The Peekskill Firehouse Kitchen Incubator was a joint project between the Peekskill Industrial Development Agency (IDA), Peekskill Facilities Development Corp. (PFDC), and the Westchester County Office of Economic Development. The Peekskill City Council passed a resolution of support for the project in May of 2021.\n\nA copy of Schumer\u2019s original letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo appears below:\n\nDear Secretary Raimondo:\n\nI am pleased to write in support of the application submitted by the Peekskill Facilities Development Corporation (PFDC) to the Department of Commerce\u2019s Economic Development Administration (EDA) to transform the abandoned Peekskill firehouse into a new state-of-the-art culinary incubator in the City of Peekskill.\n\nThe Peekskill Firehouse Kitchen Incubator is a joint project by the Peekskill Industrial Development Agency (IDA), Peekskill Facilities Development Corporation (PFDC) and Westchester County\u2019s Office of Economic Development. The proposed $2.4 million EDA investment would renovate the city-owned former Centennial Hose Fire Station for adaptive reuse, transforming the space into a hub for small and new culinary businesses, allowing them to access shared facilities, training opportunities, equipment, and the technical assistance needed to grow and thrive.\n\nImportantly, this proposal would reinvest in the city\u2019s vibrant restaurant and hospitality industries that took a major hit during the pandemic. The City of Peekskill reported $800 million in lost visitor spending during 2020. Food and restaurant revenues decreased over 47%, with employment in the sector down 37% compared to pre-pandemic levels. When coupled with the devastating loss of 1,000 jobs caused by Indian Point\u2019s closure, this much-needed project would create a new workforce development and business-boosting programs. The kitchen would also benefit culinary entrepreneurs by removing the barrier of having to lease or purchase a kitchen facility at market rate, allowing them to grow at their own pace.\n\nThe former firehouse totals 8,000 square feet, including a 2,400-square-foot, two-bay garage. After the adaptive reuse conversion is completed, the 4,500-square-foot commercial kitchen portion of the building would house five, fully-equipped and licensed commercial kitchens, complete with stations for prep, storage, packaging, shipping, and receiving, along with office space. \u201cSupport facilities\u201d in the incubator would include entrepreneurship programming and workforce skills development, emphasizing food-business-oriented training and work-and-learn training.\n\nI applaud the Peekskill Facilities Development Corporation for its foresight, and sincerely hope the application meets with your approval. Thank you for your consideration.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gillibrand-announce-fort-drum-receives-nearly-10-million-in-omnibus-spending-package-to-make-critical-security-updates-and-move-forward-on-state-of-the-art-combat-physical-fitness-testing-facility", "SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE FORT DRUM RECEIVES NEARLY $10 MILLION IN OMNIBUS SPENDING PACKAGE TO MAKE CRITICAL SECURITY UPDATES AND MOVE FORWARD ON STATE-OF-THE-ART COMBAT PHYSICAL FITNESS TESTING...", "2022-12-21", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Senators Fiercely Advocated For Funding To Be Included In Omnibus Spending Package To Ensure Fort Drum Achieves Peak Mission Readiness\n\nSchumer, Gillibrand: Investing In Fort Drum Is Investing In Future Of The North Country & Our National Defense\n\nU.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that following their staunch advocacy for the soldiers and families of Fort Drum, the senators have secured nearly $10 million for two major Fort Drum projects in the end-of-year spending package for FY2023.\n\nThe first is over $3 million to begin the planning and design of a new, modern physical fitness testing facility field house. The second will use $6.8 million to modernize and upgrade the Access Control Point (ACP) at Fort Drum, ensuring the security of those working on the base. The senators said that jointly these projects would help ensure the long-term stability and vitality of Fort Drum for years to come.\n\n\u201cFort Drum is woven in the very fabric of the North Country and essential to our national defense. Our soldiers and those on the base deserve only the best when it comes to security and facilities that support their legendary readiness, that is why I am proud to deliver funding for these two critical projects to keep the base secure and thriving,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cThis funding means bolstering both the physical health and wellbeing of our soldiers as they train and prepare for deployment. I will always fight to make sure our Fort Drum soldiers have what they need to be mission ready and defend our country.\u201d\n\n\u201cFort Drum is one of the most strategically important bases in the country and a cornerstone of the North Country community. This $10 million investment will help ensure soldiers at the base have what they need to stay safe, healthy, and ready for deployment,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cI\u2019m proud to have fought to secure this funding and I\u2019ll keep fighting to provide Fort Drum personnel with the resources they need to serve our country.\u201d\n\nThe senators explained that the new $6.8 million Access Control Point Alley Modernization project will drastically improve perimeter security at Fort Drum. Fort Drum is currently randomly inspecting privately owned vehicles and commercial trucks in the inbound lanes at the ID Check Areas, and the GSA Military Police vehicle located at the ACP has no way of stopping a breaching vehicle from entering the base should a situation arise. This project supports the modernization of a non-standard design ACP by improving the existing aging concrete inbound and outbound lanes, and extending the response Zone to meet the required response distance from the ID Check Area to the active vehicle barrier system.\n\nIn addition, over $3 million will go directly to the planning and design of a new physical fitness testing facility for soldiers to take the Army Combat Physical Fitness Test. This is integral to fulfilling the new test requirement announced by the US Army Center for Initial Military Training. Schumer and Gillibrand said this long overdue investment will ensure Fort Drum is at peak readiness for emergency deployment and able to support the thousands of families there for generations to come.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gillibrand-announce-niagara-county-receives-nearly-1-million-through-the-bipartisan-infrastructure-law-to-replace-deteriorating-hartland-road-bridge-over-golden-hill-creek-in-somerset", "SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE NIAGARA COUNTY RECEIVES NEARLY $1 MILLION THROUGH THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW TO REPLACE DETERIORATING HARTLAND ROAD BRIDGE OVER GOLDEN HILL CREEK IN SOMERSET", "2022-12-21", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Schumer, Gillibrand: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Just Helped Bridge The Gap For Critical Bridge Replacement In Niagara County\n\nU.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that Niagara County received $959,304 through the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s (USDOT) Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program to replace the structurally deteriorating Hartland Road Bridge over Golden Hill Creek. Schumer said that this major federal boost comes from the historic increases he was able to secure in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act\n\n\u201cThe Hartland Road Bridge over Golden Hill Creek is a vital connector in Niagara County, but for years its aging infrastructure has put pedestrians and motorists in harm\u2019s way, and hindered economic development. That is why I am so proud to be able to deliver nearly $1 million to upgrade this vital link before repairs proved a bridge too far,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cThis much needed investment will ensure our agriculture community in Niagara County can continue to grow and give our rural communities the support they need to continue to grow the Western New York regional economy. Improvements in agribusiness bridges will be essential to Niagara County\u2019s economy by investing in the community and the people that work here now, and for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is a critical investment in Niagara County\u2019s infrastructure,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cI\u2019m proud to have fought to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to secure nearly $1 million to upgrade the Hartland Road Bridge, promote regional economic growth, and improve safety standards, and I\u2019ll keep fighting to bring federal dollars to Western New York.\u201d\n\n\"I am very excited to see the funding is now in place for the replacement of the Hartland Road Bridge in Town of Somerset,\" said Niagara County Legislator Shawn Foti. \"Investing in the upkeep of our infrastructure in rural communities is a top priority, especially in support of our agriculture industry. So, we are very appreciative when our partners in government, like Senator Schumer, are able to deliver funds for these important projects.\"\n\nAgribusiness is one the top contributors to Niagara County\u2019s GDP, with almost 800 farms comprising around 40% of the County\u2019s acreage. Underdeveloped roads in rural areas are one of the leading issues holding back Niagara County\u2019s agribusiness industry. Specifically, this funding will help replace the Hartland Road Bridge with a longer, wider bridge to accommodate larger agricultural vehicles, including new abutment, footing, and wing walls to increase safety to modern standards. This is the first step in reinforcing rural infrastructure that has not been touched in nearly half a century.\n\nSchumer and Gillibrand said the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law created the new Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program with $1 billion in funding over five years, helping make today\u2019s grant possible.\n\nThe Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program support projects to improve and expand the surface transportation infrastructure in rural areas to increase connectivity, improve the safety and reliability of the movement of people and freight, and generate regional economic growth and improve quality of life.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://morelle.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-joe-morelle-authors-legislation-bolster-right-online-privacy", "CONGRESSMAN JOE MORELLE AUTHORS LEGISLATION TO BOLSTER THE RIGHT TO ONLINE PRIVACY", "2022-12-20", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Joseph D. Morelle", "M001206", "morelle.house.gov", "morelle", "https://morelle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.) \u2014 Today, Congressman Joe Morelle introduced new legislation to protect the right to privacy online. The Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act, authored by Congressman Morelle, would make illegal the non-consensual sharing of altered or \u201cdeepfake\u201d intimate images online and create additional legal courses of action for those impacted.\n\n\u201cAs technology and artificial intelligence continue to evolve, it\u2019s critical that we take proactive steps to combat disinformation and protect individuals from harm or compromising situations online,\u201d said Congressman Joe Morelle. \u201cThe spread of altered images can cause irrevocable emotional, financial, and reputational harm\u2014and unfortunately, women are disproportionately impacted. I\u2019m proud to have introduced this legislation that takes common-sense steps to protect their privacy, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass it into law.\u201d\n\nSAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher, a staunch advocate of protections for women and other vulnerable groups, has personally been a victim of this technology and is revolted to have had her image exploited in this way. Drescher today praised the proposed legislation saying:\n\n\"With great technology comes great responsibility. As we cheer on new advancements in the creative arts, we must never lose sight of the dark side of tech and the people it can harm. I have personally been a victim of this technology and applaud Congressman Morelle for proposing federal protection against sexualized non-consensual digital replicas and \u2018deepfakes'. This bill will help curb an incredibly destructive practice that strikes at the very heart of personal privacy, safety and autonomy. Sexual abuse, whether occurring physically or digitally, should never be excused or permitted as \u2018personal expression\u2019, and it should never be tolerated. Make no mistake, deepfakes is a violation, objectification and exploitation, but it\u2019s also counterfeit and must be made illegal and punishable by law. This bill is a powerful step to ensure that new and exciting technology is not used to cause obvious and irreparable harm.\u201d\n\nDr. Mary Anne Franks, President and Legislative & Tech Policy Director, Cyber Civil Rights Initiative, said: \u201cThe vast majority of so-called \u201cdeepfakes\u201d are pornographic images and videos featuring women and girls without their consent. Like other forms of nonconsensual pornography, the creation and distribution of digitally manipulated intimate images can inflict severe psychological, reputational, and professional harm. The Cyber Civil Rights Initiative is pleased to support the Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act, which will help deter this egregious form of sexual exploitation.\u201d\n\nWith technological advancement has come the emergence of \u201cdeepfakes\u201d\u2014digitally altered images that use an individual\u2019s likeness mapped onto a photo or video of someone else. A 2019 report found that 96 percent of deepfake videos online were pornographic in content and exclusively targeted women. While the videos are fake, their impacts are very real\u2014and until now, little has been done to provide women with protection or recourse from this disturbing phenomenon.\n\nIn March 2022, President Biden signed the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization Act, a bipartisan law taking significant steps to address domestic violence. The VAWA Reauthorization included provisions to empower individuals victimized by the non-consensual disclosure of their intimate visual images to seek civil penalties in federal court. However, these provisions did not include the same protections for those impacted by the disclosure of deepfakes, leaving individuals vulnerable to exploitation by these images.\n\nTo address this issue, Congressman Morelle introduced the Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act, which would:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3771", "All 15 Tonko Community Projects Included in Year End Funding", "2022-12-20", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Paul Tonko", "T000469", "tonko.house.gov", "tonko", "https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "ALBANY, NY\u2014Congressman Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) announced a slate of 15 community development and improvement projects across New York\u2019s 20th Congressional District totaling $12,849,613 that he secured as part of the final 2023 appropriations government funding package.\n\n\u201cThe community projects in our Capital Region bring incredible promise for our communities with key investments that will drive economic growth, create good jobs and propel our Capital Region forward,\u201d Congressman Tonko said. \u201cFor months, my team and I have been pushing to ensure these worthy projects are included in a federal spending package, and I\u2019m delighted to announce that determined push has been successful. My heartfelt thanks to the dedicated local leaders who proposed and developed these deserving projects. I look forward to seeing how these federal dollars will unleash the untapped potential of our region and ignite our economy.\u201d\n\nTonko championed funding for 15 projects that will directly benefit Capital Region residents. In alphabetical order these include:\n\n$469,333 for the Business Incubator, Amsterdam, New York\n\n$540,000 for the Charlton Community Center, Charlton, New York\n\n$800,000 for the Employment Services Facility Improvement Project, Troy, New York\n\n$650,000 for the Esperanza Verde Park, Amsterdam, New York\n\n$400,000 for the Hoffman Park Community Center Improvements, Albany, New York\n\n$2,358,292 for the HOMEBASE - Combatting Social Isolation Stigma in the Mental Health Community, Saratoga Springs, New York\n\n$2,065,000 for the Hudson Valley Community College, Troy, NY for STEM and healthcare workforce development\n\n$500,000 for the Little Italy's Neighborhood Placemaking for Economic Development, Troy, New York\n\n$770,088 for the Maria College, Albany, NY for nursing programs, including technology and equipment\n\n$505,359 for the Matton Shipyard Preservation and Adaptive Reuse Initiative, Waterford, New York\n\n$1,500,000 for the Schenectady Community Action Program Campus Project, Schenectady, New York\n\n$1,000,000 for the Schenectady Community Virtual Power Plant\n\n$496,541 for the Siena College, Loudonville, NY for facilities and equipment\n\n$750,000 for the Transitional Housing and Services for LGBT and Gender Non-Conforming, Albany, New York\n\n$45,000 for the Village of Fultonville for Drinking Water Upgrades Project\n\nAdditional project descriptions can be found on Tonko\u2019s website HERE.\n\nThe twelve-bill government funding package will create good-paying American jobs, grow opportunity for the middle class and small businesses, and provide a lifeline for working families. Taken together, the funding for New York\u2019s 20th District and the funding increases for critical government programs will continue to reverse decades of disinvestment in communities.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/after-one-of-the-most-productive-congresses-in-decades-and-being-elected-to-a-record-setting-5th-term-to-the-us-senate-schumer-completes-tour-of-all-62-new-york-counties-for-the-24th-time-senator-calls-this-tour-one-of-most-impactful-of-his-career-after-delivering-billions-for-ny-and-creating-thousands-of-good-paying-jobs-this-year-schumer-finishes-annual-tour-of-state-in-saratoga-county-with-118-total-visits-to-upstate-ny-and-long-island", "AFTER ONE OF THE MOST PRODUCTIVE CONGRESSES IN DECADES, AND BEING ELECTED TO A RECORD SETTING 5th TERM TO THE U.S. SENATE, SCHUMER COMPLETES TOUR OF ALL 62 NEW YORK COUNTIES FOR THE 24th TIME; SENATOR...", "2022-12-19", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "During Schumer\u2019s 1998 Senate Election, He Vowed To Visit Every Single New York County Each Year\u2014 Now After Re-Election To A Historic 5th Term And Becoming Majority Leader, The Tradition Continues\n\nThis Year \u2013 As He Led One Of The Most Productive Senates In Decades, Schumer Delivers One Of The Largest Economic Development Project in U.S. History To Upstate NY, Creating Thousands of New Good Paying Jobs, And Secures Billions For Infrastructure, Lowers Prescription Drug Costs, And Passes The Largest Investment Ever To Fight Climate Change\n\nAfter 24 Years, Schumer Continues To Honor His Pledge And Says He Has No Plans Of Slowing Down\n\nOn the heels of being re-elected to a historic 5th term, and while leading one of the most productive Senates in decades, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today completed his 24th consecutive tour of all 62 New York counties \u2014 his second while also serving as Majority Leader. Schumer was the first New York public official to visit every single county in New York, a tradition he has continued each year he has been in office.\n\nOver the course of the year, Schumer made 118 county visits to Upstate New York and Long Island. He visited counties in the Capital Region 19 times; Western New York 12 times; Central New York 18 times; Rochester-Finger Lakes 15 times; the Southern Tier 13 times; the Hudson Valley 16 times; the North Country 7 times; and Long Island 18 times.\n\n\u201cWhen I made the promise to visit every county in New York every year after my first election, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine doing it as Majority Leader, or that I would be doing so while simultaneously passing some of the most important legislation in generations: from the largest investment ever in fighting climate change, to lowering the cost of prescription drugs, to bringing manufacturing jobs back from overseas to Upstate New York. Although I\u2019ve gained the title of Majority Leader, my proudest title will always remain, New York\u2019s senator and more importantly \u2018New Yorker,\u2019\u201d said Majority Leader Schumer. \u201cNow, at the conclusion of one of the most productive legislative sessions in decades and my first Congress as New York\u2019s first U.S. Senate Majority Leader, I confidently can say the tradition of visiting every corner of the Empire State is even more imperative and allows me to deliver for my beloved home state in bigger and bolder ways because of all I learn from my constituents. This year alone, because of the federal legislation I led to passage, the largest economic development project in New York history came to the Syracuse area and will have a statewide impact, and we are seeing thousands of good paying jobs being created in the semiconductor and clean energy industries from Genesee County to the Hudson Valley. Across the state our road, transit, broadband, and water infrastructure is seeing new life from critical federal investment that just a few years ago seemed unobtainable due to budget shortfalls during the height of the pandemic. This year, more than ever before, I know that New York\u2019s future will be brighter than its past. Because of the investment we are making today in rebuilding our infrastructure, fighting climate change, and bringing jobs back from overseas, our children and grandchildren will have the future they deserve right here in New York.\u201d\n\nSchumer added, \u201cAt the close of twenty-four years, my beliefs are as clear as ever: \u2018Senators who stay in Washington and never return home are simply not doing their job.\u2019 Whether I\u2019m eating ice cream at the State Fair in Syracuse or riding my bike in Brooklyn, New York is always on my mind, and I\u2019m always learning directly from my constituents. To the New Yorkers who\u2019d lost faith that Congress can do big things, this year was for you, and I will never stop fighting to deliver for New York.\u201d\n\nSchumer said that this has been one of the most productive legislative sessions in decades, and with each of the major bills he led to passage, he always had New York top of mind. Some of these major legislative victories passed in his first two years of his leadership included:\n\n\u00b7 The American Rescue Plan \u2013 Delivering over $100 Billion in relief to New York\u2019s state and local governments, workers, small businesses, and health centers so they could recover from the impacts of COVID and build back stronger than before.\n\n\u00b7 The Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act \u2013 This year alone New York received $9.3+ billion from the Infrastructure Law with billions more on the way which is helping make long overdue investments in our roads, bridges, transit, airports, broadband, and water infrastructure, including replacing lead pipes, and cleaning up polluted sites to improve the state\u2019s environment and make way for new investment.\n\n\u00b7 The CHIPS & Science Bill \u2013 Senator Schumer authored this bill specifically with Upstate New York in mind, and it has already spurred the largest economic development project in New York State\u2019s, and likely America\u2019s history. This legislation provides generational investments to bring manufacturing back from overseas, help fix America\u2019s supply chain crisis, and prompt billions of investment and the creation of tens of thousands of good paying jobs in communities in every corner of the state.\n\n\u00b7 The Inflation Reduction Act \u2013 This legislation provides the largest investment in fighting climate change in our nation\u2019s history, all while also lowering prescription drug costs and making sure corporations pay their fair share. New York this year reached record levels of clean energy jobs, and these industries will be supercharged by the investments included in the Inflation Reduction Act, as well as and will clean up neighborhoods and environments across the state. On top of that, because of this bill, starting in January seniors on Medicare will no longer have to pay more than $35 for insulin, will get free vaccines, and will have their out of pocket costs lowered to $3,250 in 2024 and down to $2,000 in 2025.\n\nThese are on top of other major policy accomplishments like the Honoring our PACT Act to help veterans who suffer from toxic exposure, passing marriage equality, historic progress on confirmations for highly qualified diverse federal judges, and much more.\n\nSpecifically, in his continued quest to deliver resources to every corner of New York, Schumer highlighted various accomplishments achieved over the past year by region below:\n\nWESTERN NEW YORK\n\nDelivered $25 Million to Reconnect Buffalo with the Rebuilding America's Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity.\n\nAfter standing with community leaders at Buffalo\u2019s beleaguered \u201cmiddle\u201d Main Street earlier this year, Schumer delivered $25 million in federal funding to finally fix the roadway between Goodell Street and Kensington Avenue and finally create a safe, walkable, bikeable street. This builds on the senator\u2019s long history of advocacy for Buffalo\u2019s Cars Sharing Main project and the over $33 million he has already delivered for the project. Schumer personally advocated to Transportation Secretary Buttigieg for Buffalo\u2019s selection for funding though the highly competitive Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program, which Schumer secured historic funding for in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.\n\nBrought $25 Million To Western New York To Train Workers For Good Paying Manufacturing Jobs:\n\nFollowing his personal appeal to President Biden and direct advocacy with Commerce Secretary Raimondo that secured Western New York\u2019s spot as a finalist in the American Rescue Plan\u2019s Build Back Better Regional Challenge, Schumer announced WNY had received $25 million to train workers, particularly those in East Buffalo, for in-demand manufacturing jobs.Schumer said this major federal funding will elevate the region as America\u2019s next major manufacturing hub and position it well for a federal tech hub designation as part of the new Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs Program that was created in Schumer\u2019s CHIPS and Science Act that was signed into law this year. The Western NY Advanced Manufacturing Cluster was one of only 21 final awardees, out of 529 applications submitted from across the country.\n\nSecured General Motors $154 Million Investment At Its Western New York Lockport Components Plant:\n\nSchumer joined GM for their announcement to invest $154 million, and add 230 new, good-paying UAW jobs to their plant in Lockport as they begin production for key components in electric vehicle motors. These investments have been largely spurred by the federal incentives Schumer has long fought to pass going back to his Clean Cars For America Climate Proposal, the federal electric vehicle infrastructure investments he was able to secure in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and most recently the Inflation Reduction Act.\n\nStanding With Buffalo Families Following The Horrific Racially Motivated Mass Shooting In East Buffalo To Pass The First Bipartisan Gun Safety Legislation In Decades:\n\nFollowing the tragic mass shootings in East Buffalo and in Uvalde, TX, Schumer worked directly with the families and gun safety advocates to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the first significant gun safety bill in nearly 30 years. This long overdue step, breaking the vice grip of the gun lobby, would not have been possible without the non-stop advocacy of the families in Buffalo, incentivizing red flag flaws, boosting mental health care, enhancing background checks, and closing dangerous loopholes \u2013 and will undoubtedly save lives.\n\nProtected Chautauqua Waterways with $10 Million for Critical Infrastructure Projects:\n\nSchumer secured $10 million for Chautauqua County for long overdue critical water infrastructure projects to keep Western NY communities clean, boost tourism, and keep drinking water safe. This funding, secured as a part of the Fiscal Year 2022 omnibus, includes over $8 million for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to dredge and study-design essential breakwater improvements for Dunkirk, Barcelona, and Cattaraugus Creek harbors, and $2 million for the Village of Mayville to replace a contaminated well so that residents can have access to safe clean water.\n\nCENTRAL NEW YORK\n\nLured Micron To Onondaga County Bringing An Unprecedented Up To $100 Billion Investment And Creating Nearly 50,000 Good Paying New York Jobs:\n\nAfter years of advocacy, Schumer working hand in hand with Governor Hochul helped deliver the largest economic development project in NY and likely America\u2019s history to Central New York. This extraordinary investment was only possibly because of Schumer's historic, bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, which Micron cited directly as the primary reason they built their facility here and not overseas. The mega fab will fundamentally transform the Upstate New York economy for generations to come.\n\nSecured $18 Million To Revitalize The Gateway To Utica\u2019s Downtown:\n\nFollowing his direct advocacy to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Schumer secured $18+ million for the Utica community through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program, bolstered by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to modernize the North Genesee Street gateway to downtown Utica. Specifically, the federal funding will replace two deteriorating bridges that cross the Mohawk River and the National Historic Erie Canal that connect North Utica and rural areas to Utica\u2019s downtown center.\n\nDelivered $318 million for Rome\u2019s Air Force Research Laboratory:\n\nSchumer secured $293 million for Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome to research and develop the next generation of supercomputers, expand its testing of unmanned aerial systems, develop and manufacture an advanced quantum photonic system, and open a new \u201cQuantum Computing Test Bed.\u201d This funding, secured in the FY22 budget, will bolster one the largest economic engines in the Mohawk Valley economy with good paying jobs, all while strengthening our national security for next generation technology. Schumer alsosecured $25 million in federal funding to spur a new phase in the partnership between GlobalFoundries & PsiQuantum to expand research and development spearheaded out of the Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, New York (Rome Lab), to manufacture and test photonic quantum computing technology that will create jobs, help attract and retain top scientific talent to Upstate New York, and will make critical progress to compete with China to develop a first of its kind quantum super computer.\n\nLanded Breeze Airway at Syracuse Hancock International Airport:\n\nFollowing Senator Schumer\u2019s long history of fighting for affordable air service to Upstate New York, and after a personal meeting with the Breeze CEO, Schumer announced that Breeze Airways will begin to offer service from Syracuse to unserved, high demand areas particularly on the West Coast and in the Southeast.\n\nCAPITAL REGION\n\nSecured Over $9 Million For Capital Region Fire Departments To Train Emergency Personnel And Address Staffing Shortages:\n\nAfter delivering over $1 million through FEMA\u2019s Assistance to Firefighters (AFG) Program to the Troy Fire Department for paramedic training and Schenectady Fire Department for equipment, Schumer successfully delivered a total of nearly $8 million to the Saratoga Springs and Troy Fire Departments through the Staffing For Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program, the third and fourth largest grants in New York State history. This historic funding will help hire of dozens of new desperately needed firefighters and emergency personnel in the Capital Region.\n\nConfirmed Capital Region Native Anne Nardacci To The Northern District Federal Bench \u2013 A Historic Achievement Making A Majority Women Active Judge Bench:\n\nSchumer personally recommended Capital Region native Anne Nardacci to President Biden for nomination as District Court Judge for the Northern District of New York., she is the third woman Schumer has recommended to serve on the NDNY bench, following Mae D\u2019Agostino and Brenda Sannes. Nardacci was successfully confirmed on November 30th, transforming the NDNY bench from zero full time female judges to 60% female full time judges, all recommended by Senator Schumer.\n\nDelivered $4 Million To Revitalize Downtown Troy By Transforming Blighted Abandoned Buildings Into New Affordable Housing:\n\nThe Taylor Apartments revitalization project is underway thanks to Senator Schumer delivering $3 million in American Rescue Plan funds to the City of Troy and over $1 million from HUD that was delivered to the Troy Housing Authority. The long-vacant apartment towers along Troy\u2019s waterfront have long been an eyesore for the city. Troy officials had wanted to remove them for years but did not have the funding to begin. Now the demolition, funded entirely with federal dollars Schumer secured, is ongoing and construction on new affordable housing in its place is on track to begin this spring.\n\nJoined CDTA To Announce The Groundbreaking For Region\u2019s First Gateway Mobility Hub:\n\nIn April, Schumer visited downtown Schenectady to break ground on the Capital District Transportation Authority\u2019s Gateway Mobility Hub. This first-of-its-kind transit center will be backed with 80% federal funding Senator Schumer secured. This it is the culmination of unprecedented $296 million for Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) in emergency COVID relief and new investment like the purchase of a dozen new electric buses that Schumer delivered. The CDTA Gateway Mobility Hub will increase transit accessibility, accelerate economic recovery, and help revolutionize transportation for the entire Capital Region by providing carshare, bike and scooter-share programs while connecting to CDTA\u2019s newly expanded service into Montgomery County.\n\nDelivered Over $22 Million For Community Led Capital Region Projects:\n\nSchumer visited the Blake Annex in downtown Albany to announce over $22 million in Congressionally Directed Spending to accelerate the Capital Region\u2019s economic recovery from the pandemic. These community-led projects include funding to bolster Capital Region non-profits, create a training center in Albany\u2019s South End to prepare workers for jobs in offshore wind tower manufacturing, boost cutting-edge research at local universities, and deliver broadband service to close the digital divide in rural parts of the region.\n\nSecured $117 million Defense Production Act Agreement between GlobalFoundries and the U.S. Department of Defense:\n\nSchumer delivered this $117 million federal investment, which brings together GlobalFoundries and DoD to provide a strategic supply of U.S.-made semiconductors that are critical to national security systems. The senator said that these chips will be used in some of the nation\u2019s most sensitive defense and aerospace applications and will be made in the Capital Region at GlobalFoundries\u2019 Fab 8 facility in Malta, NY.\n\nChampioned Legislation to Remove Chinese Chips From Federal Government Supply Chain and Boost Demand for American-Made Chips:\n\nIn the wake of leading the historic passage of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, Schumer spearheaded the inclusion in the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act of a bipartisan amendment to prohibit the U.S. government\u2019s use of certain semiconductor chips made in by companies that are backed by the Chinese Communist Party and China\u2019s military and therefore that pose a significant national security threat. These new provisions will help limit the prevalence of these Chinese-made chips in federal government supply chains, strengthening national security, keeping New Yorkers\u2019 data safe, and boosting demand for more domestically made microchips, including from GlobalFoundries in the Capital Region.\n\nLONG ISLAND\n\nSecured Reversal Of IRS Decision That Unduly Taxed Homeowners Participating In Suffolk County\u2019s Landmark Environmental Improvement Program:\n\nAfter years of making a stink on the unfair tax liability issue affecting Suffolk\u2019s septic grant program, Schumer secured a determination from the IRS declaring once and for all that Suffolk Septic Improvement Program (SIP) grants are, in fact, tax exempt and that there is an avenue to reimbursement for those who already made tax payments. The SIP replaces outdated and environmentally-damaging residential cesspools and septic systems with nitrogen-reducing ones. The program has attracted rightful interest of residents \u2013 1,000+ homeowners have participated so far \u2013 but many participants unexpectedly faced high tax bills and other related financial ramifications, while many other residents have not participated because of confusion and worry regarding tax liability, hampering the County\u2019s environmental restoration efforts. Earlier this year, Schumer wrote to the USDA secretary advocating for him to declare that SIP grants are made primarily for conservation purposes and thus eligible for exemption from income tax calculations. Once the USDA made the declaration, Schumer called on the IRS to reverse their original ruling that homeowners must be taxed for utilizing the grants.\n\nPumped $5.2 Million Into Hempstead Village To Repair And Replace Faltering Water And Sewer Infrastructure:\n\nAs part of the FY22 federal budget process, Schumer secured $3.2 million for the Village of Hempstead to improve its aging, deteriorating water treatment plant and to install distribution mains in downtown areas. Upgrades are needed to ensure the local water system meets projected demand in the village over the next 15 years and to ensure water flow throughout the system meets fire safety standards. He also secured inclusion of $2 million for the Village of Hempstead\u2019s sewer system improvements, including the construction of a new gravity sewer main that will allow for the construction of new housing and commercial developments throughout the village\u2019s downtown core.\n\nHalted Plans To Shutter Services At Northport VAMC, Preserving Care For Over 31,000 Long Island Veterans:\n\nUnder the VA Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission plan released in March, Northport VAMC would have been gutted: the emergency department would have shut and urgent-care services would have moved to an outpatient clinic in Commack; residential rehabilitation treatment would have transitioned 42 miles away to Queens; and, inpatient rehabilitation for blind patients would have moved to Connecticut, leaving only inpatient mental health, residential nursing home care, and rehabilitation medicine at Northport. Schumer immediately launched an all-out push to prevent closure, rallying with dozens of veterans outside Northport VAMC to fight the loss of critical local care access. In June, Schumer announced that the AIR Commission process would not move forward, protecting the healthcare services for over 31,000 Long Island veterans.\n\nDelivered $10 Million For Stony Brook University To Establish A New Biomedical Research Network On Long Island:\n\nTo bolster Long Island\u2019s burgeoning biotechnology industry as well as continued success and innovation at institutions like Brookhaven National Lab, Cold Spring Harbor Lab, and Stony Brook University (SBU), Schumer secured $10 million for Stony Brook to create and grow the Long Island Network for Clinical and Translation Science (LINCATS). This federal funding will allow SBU to scale-up operations of a research and healthcare service network, creating an ecosystem that will fast track the application of new scientific discoveries into clinical medical care. The overall mission of LINCATS is to accelerate the public health impact of research, especially for underserved communities across Long Island. Not only will LINCATS put Long Island on the map as a center of clinical healthcare research, it will also help provide innovative new treatments to benefit more patients throughout the region.\n\nRestored Hundreds Of Millions Of Dollars In Hard-Earned Pension Benefits For Thousands Of Long Island Retirees:\n\nAfter visiting union pensioners at Teamsters Local 707 in 2018 and working from then on in bipartisan fashion with Rep. Peter King and Suffolk Legislator Kevin McCaffrey on multiemployer pension relief, Schumer successfully delivered pension relief for over one-million union workers and families across America, including over 600,000 in New York. In early 2022, $725 Million was delivered to Hempstead-based Local 707\u2019s pension plan, one of the first plans in the nation to receive this sorely-needed funding. Over 4,000 retired Long Island and NYC truck operators and delivery drivers \u2013 many of whom saw their hard-earned monthly pension bills cut by 2/3 through no fault of their own \u2013 had their payments fully restored and received full back pay, ensuring economic stability in their golden years.\n\nEnsured Reimbursement Of Housing Costs For Long Islanders Who Elevate Their Homes As Part Of Fire Island To Montauk Point Coastal Resiliency Project:\n\nSchumer negotiated and secured the inclusion of a provision in the Water Resources Development Act that will allow homeowners that choose to elevate their homes as part of the Army Corps of Engineers\u2019 Fire Island Inlet to Montauk Point (FIMP) coastal resiliency project to be reimbursed up to $20,000 for relocation costs during the home renovation process. FIMP home elevation is voluntary and much of construction cost will paid by the federal government thanks to Schumer\u2019s efforts during Superstorm Sandy recovery. This new provision to reimburse homeowners for temporary relocation costs will further ease the elevation process and allow for greater participation from eligible residents. FIMP \u2013 100% fed-funded thanks to Schumer \u2013 is a coastal storm risk management project designed to limit damage along Long Island\u2019s south shore in a way that balances risks to human life and property, while maintaining, enhancing, and restoring ecosystem integrity and coastal biodiversity. The Project includes beach, dune, and berm construction, as well as breach response plans on barrier islands; inlet management; groin modifications; and coastal process features. It also includes the potential elevation and flood proofing of approximately 4,400 structures located in the 10-year floodplain.\n\nROCHESTER-FINGER LAKES\n\nFollowing Schumer\u2019s Push And Passage Of His CHIPS And Science Act, Edwards Vacuum Agrees To Build A $319 Million, 600 Job Facility At Genesee County\u2019s STAMP Site:\n\nSchumer in a personal pitch to Edwards Vacuum CEO successfully convinced the company to choose Genesee County\u2019s Science & Technology Advanced Manufacturing (STAMP) Park for its new 600- job semiconductor supply chain factory, making what will be the County\u2019s largest manufacturing investment in more than 50 years. Spurred by Schumer\u2019s CHIPS and Science Act, Edwards decided to build a new factory in the U.S. and onshore production from overseas to serve the expanding semiconductor manufacturing industry brought about thanks to the federal incentives included in Schumer\u2019s legislation.\n\nDelivered $7.5 Million In EDA Funding To Expand Rochester\u2019s Strong Museum:\n\nSchumer personally advocated to the U.S. Economic Development Administration for Rochester\u2019s Strong National Museum of Play funding through the Schumer-led American Rescue Plan (ARP) Competitive Tourism program to boost their ongoing expansion. The funding will directly assist in the construction of the Digital Worlds Exhibit, Outdoor Plaza & Commons, and the Outdoor Play Exhibit. This grant is expected to create over 120 jobs, attract more visitors at the museum, and will generate over $160 million in annual tourism revenue for the Finger Lakes Region.\n\nSecured Assistance From U.S. Department Of Defense Military Medical Teams To Aid Rochester\u2019s Strong Hospital In Combatting COVID-19 Surge:\n\nFollowing his visit to Strong Hospital in Rochester earlier this year, Schumer wrote a letter to FEMA\u2019s Administrator Deanne Criswell personally urging FEMA to aid New York State in their fight against the COVID-19 Pandemic to combat the surge and staffing shortage overwhelming Upstate hospitals. As a result of Schumer\u2019s efforts, the federal government heeded his call and sent two Department of Defense Military Medical Teams to Strong Hospital to combat the wave of new cases. The teams included around 20 members each, and provided relief for local doctors and nurses in their fight against the COVID surge.\n\nSpurred By Schumer\u2019s CHIPS and Science Act, Corning Incorporated Completed A $139 Million Investment Expansion Of Its Fairport Advanced Optics Center in Monroe County:\n\nSchumer announced that Corning Inc. is expanding its Fairport Advanced Optics Center by constructing a new laser optics production facility in the Town of Gates. Corning cited the increased demand for their components with the growth of the semiconductor industry spurred by Schumer\u2019s CHIPS and Science bill, as a catalyst for their investment in the facility. Specifically, Corning will expand operations in Monroe County to produce equipment needed by major semiconductor manufacturers and is expected to add over 270 new good paying jobs at its facility in the Village of Fairport.\n\nHUDSON VALLEY\n\nCleaned Up And Revitalized Ulster\u2019s Former TechCity Campus To Transform The Once Asbestos-Ridden Dump Site To An Emerging Clean Energy Hub:\n\nFollowing his July 2021 personal visit to the asbestos-contaminated former TechCity site, where Schumer called on EPA to fully clean up and restore Ulster\u2019s former economic engine, National Resources purchased the site and soon-after announced plans to make it the future home of thousands of new jobs. Stepping in to make these plans reality, in July of 2022, the senator called on Zinc8 to bring 500 clean energy jobs to the iPark87 campus. By August of 2022, Zinc8 signed a letter of intent to make the site its future home, citing Schumer\u2019s efforts in its decision. At the same time, this summer, alongside EPA and National Resources, Schumer formally launched the clean-up work leading to the notorious asbestos piles\u2019 removal this fall.\n\nHalted The VA\u2019s Plan To Close Castle Point VA Medical Center To Preserve Access To Care For 7,000 Hudson Valley Veterans:\n\nAfter standing shoulder to shoulder with Hudson Valley veterans in March to fight the proposal to close the Castle Point VA Hospital, Schumer announced that the independent Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission process that included VA-recommended facility closures would not move forward. The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee followed suit taking the Hudson Valley VA hospital off the chopping block and protecting the healthcare services for nearly 7,000 Hudson Valley veterans.\n\nDelivered Hundreds Of Millions To Completely Overhaul Mount Vernon\u2019s Sewage System And Combat The Decades-Long Crisis:\n\nShortly after taking office, Mount Vernon Mayor Shawn Patterson-Howard approached Senator Schumer to assist the city in addressing its ongoing sewage crisis, where years of underinvestment impacted 70,000 residents, andhe pledged to deliver the funding needed. Schumer, along with Congressman Bowman, personally delivered$3 million to jumpstart the repairs of the aging water infrastructure. This is in addition to over $6.5 million in local aid allocated for the project Schumer was able to deliver to Mount Vernon through the American Rescue Plan. In addition, thanks to funding Schumer was able to deliver through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, New York State was able to commit $150 million to completely overhaul Mount Vernon\u2019s sewage system.\n\nSecured Key Federal Approvals To Begin Construction On Long-Awaited Mamaroneck and Sheldrake River Flood Risk Management Project Following Hurricane Ida:\n\nFollowing years of advocacy and his personal visit to the Village of Mamaroneck after the devastation of Hurricane Ida, Senator Schumer secured the federal share of funding for the design and construction of the Mamaroneck and Sheldrake River Flood Risk Management Project. After the project was stalled for years under the Trump administration, the senator made multiple direct calls to top administration officials, and passed a $1.5 billion disaster supplemental to fast track Ida-impacted projects. Because of Schumer\u2019s efforts, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finally gave the greenlight for the Mamaroneck project to begin construction through its annual work plan this year.\n\nSecured Over $28 Million To Create New State-Of-The-Art Rhinecliff Train Station:\n\nAfter launching an all-out push on the dilapidated steps of the train station in February of 2020, Schumer successfully secured $28 million to go towards New York State's work in overhauling the severely outdated and crumbling Rhinecliff Station to give Hudson Valley commuters the modern, accessible train station they have desperately needed in Dutchess County.\n\nSOUTHERN TIER\n\nSecured $63+ Million For Binghamton University To Create A Battery Manufacturing And Research Hub Through The American Rescue Plan\u2019s Build Back Better Regional Challenge:\n\nAfter his direct advocacy helped BU\u2019s New Energy NY project become a finalist in the BBB Regional Challenge, Schumer fought non-stop, calling the Commerce Secretary directly, penning an op-ed, and personally visiting to highlight Binghamton and the Southern Tier\u2019s potential within the battery research industry. In September, Schumer announced that following his efforts BU\u2019s project was awarded $63+ million in federal funding, with a matching $50 million contributed by NYS. This funding will help establish the Greater Binghamton area as a national hub for battery manufacturing and R&D, help create thousands of good-paying jobs, and bolster our domestic supply chains and national security by revitalizing the domestic production of batteries vital to our countries clean energy future.\n\nDelivered $2.75 Million For The Waverly Central School District To Establish The Chemung Center For Innovation:\n\nAs part of the bipartisan Fiscal Year 2022 spending package, Schumer personally secured over $2.75 million for the Waverly Central School District to transform the vacant Chemung Elementary School into the Chemung Center For Innovation for training programs to help support local businesses. The Center will provide high school students with hands-on STEM job training needed to secure good-paying jobs upon graduation in local industries such as clean energy technology and transportation equipment manufacturing.\n\nSecured $4 Million For Alfred University To Conduct Advanced Ceramics Materials Research With The U.S. Army:\n\nSchumer successfully added $4 million in the Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations bill for advanced ceramics material research, supporting Alfred University\u2019s cutting-edge research in developing ultra-high temperature ceramic materials for the U.S. Army. This represents a key new partnership between Alfred University and the Army, and will help expand both the university\u2019s ceramics materials science program and innovation in the Southern Tier, as well as strengthen national security as the U.S. continues to develop new cutting-edge ultra-high temperature ceramics for hypersonic vehicles. The funding represents one of the largest research allocations Alfred University has ever received from the federal government for a single project.\n\nSaved Rural Delaware County Hospitals Over $5 Million Annually By Protecting Critical Access Hospital Designation:\n\nAfter fighting for years to get the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to reverse a disastrous policy change that would have caused nearly a dozen Upstate New York\u2019s rural Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) to lose millions in essential reimbursements,Schumer this year got CMS to finally reverse its rules change for the eligibility criteria. The CAH program allows designated providers to receive greater federal reimbursements, keeping financially vulnerable hospitals operating in rural communities that need critical healthcare services most. In total, this is expected to save Southern Tier hospitals over $5.4 million annually, $2.4 million for Margaretville Hospital and $3 million for O\u2019Connor Hospital, along with other Upstate hospitals, for a total of $35 million across Upstate NY.\n\nDelivered Over $5 Million For Ithaca And Tompkins County Local Projects:\n\nSchumer secured Ithaca and Tompkins County communities over $5 million in funding from the Fiscal Year 2022 omnibus funding package for local infrastructure and community projects. This includes funding to help the Greater Ithaca Activities Center expand their space and programs for youth, replace the deteriorated South Albany Street Bridge, complete the Dryden Rail Trail, boost sustainability, and bolster downtown economic development.\n\nSecured $8.5 Million to Expand Cornell\u2019s CHESS Lab, Delivering Jobs and Strengthening America\u2019s Technological Competitiveness:\n\nBuilding on his relentless advocacy to bolster Upstate New York as a global leader in innovation and manufacturing, and history of securing federal funds to support the is critical piece of scientific infrastructure, Senator Schumer secured $8.5 million in additional federal funding for the award-winning Cornell High-Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS) Lab. Senator Schumer\u2019s efforts have preserved the lab and jobs and leveraged additional NSF funding for expansion- supporting over 150 good-paying science and tech-based jobs at CHESS, plus over 150 new jobs in construction, and will further support a growing innovation economy in Upstate New York and continued American global leadership in research.\n\nNORTH COUNTRY\n\nSaved Rural North Country Hospitals Over $18 Million Annually By Protecting Critical Access Hospital Designation:\n\nAfter fighting for years to get the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to reverse a disastrous policy change that would have caused nearly a dozen Upstate New York\u2019s rural Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) to lose millions in essential reimbursements, Schumer this year got CMS to finally reverse its rules change for the eligibility criteria. The CAH program allows designated providers to receive greater federal reimbursements, keeping financially vulnerable hospitals operating in rural communities that need critical healthcare services most. In total, this is expected to save North Country hospitals over $18 million annually, $2.4 million for Margaretville Hospital and $3 million for O\u2019Connor Hospital, along with other Upstate hospitals, for a total of $35 million across Upstate NY, $5.3 million for Lewis County, $9.7 million for Carthage Area Hospital, and $3.3 million for Gouverneur Hospital, along with other Upstate hospitals for a total of $35 million across Upstate NY.\n\nDelivered $6 Million To Modernize The St. Lawrence Seaway Visitors\u2019 Center:\n\nAfter personally visiting the St. Lawrence Seaway Visitors\u2019 Center in 2018 and successfully delivering over $6 million in federal funding through U.S. Department of Transportation to replace the once dilapidated Visitors\u2019 Center. This year the new Visitor\u2019s Center that hadn\u2019t been upgraded in 60 years, was finally able to break ground ensuring North Country tourism can continue to flourish and this important site can be preserved for families and generations to come.\n\nSecured Over $50 Million For Fort Drum To Both Modernize The Outdated Railhead And Fortify The Base\u2019s Water Supply With Safe Drinking Water:\n\nSenator Schumer secured this much needed funding for two key projects at Fort Drum. The first, after years of advocacy, will modernize Fort Drum\u2019s outdated railhead with over $27 million in funding to bring good paying construction jobs to the North Country, improve base readiness to meet deployment requirements and give Fort Drum personnel the resources they need to continue their vital work. The second award of $27 million will fortify Fort Drum\u2019s well water supply, ensuring that the over 35,0000 soldiers and families of Fort Drum have access to safe drinking water, reducing Fort Drum\u2019s reliance on outside sources for its water needs, and safeguarding Fort Drum\u2019s water supply from contaminants.\n\nDelivered $500,000 To Restore Fort Ticonderoga\u2019s Iconic And Historic Walls:\n\nFollowing years of advocacy for preserving Fort Ticonderoga, Schumer secured $500,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for the restoration and rehabilitation of this vital tourism and historic anchor in Essex County. Over the nearly 250-year history of the Fort, much of the exterior walls have become damaged due to age and weather, and this funding will prevent the loss or further degradation of this iconic historical site. Schumer visited Fort Ticonderoga in August 2017, and promised then to fight to deliver funding to repair the site\u2019s aging structure, and in his first omnibus as majority leader, he delivered on his promise.\n\nProtected The Adirondacks With Major New Investments In Fighting Climate Change:\n\nIn August, following the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, Senator Schumer visited the Adirondacks, where he broke down the impact the legislation would have for families and the environment in the Adirondack Park and across the North Country. Schumer explained that the climate provisions in this bill will accelerate the domestic production of clean energy and transition to a greener economy, all of which is vital to places like the Adirondacks, which have historically been on the frontlines of fossil fuel pollution like acid rain. Schumer said that this also presents a major opportunity for places like the North Country which are set to benefit not only from major boosts to conservation funding, but also by helping families lower energy costs by upgrading their homes, creating good-paying clean energy jobs, and strengthening rural development, all while fighting climate change.\n\nDelivered Nearly $2 Million To Transform The Plattsburgh YMCA:\n\nAfter Clinton County lost two of the area\u2019s community recreation centers in 2020, Schumer delivered nearly $2 million in Congressionally Directed Spending to the Plattsburgh YMCA in order to create a new state-of-the-art health and fitness facility and expand recreation programs. These funds, as part of a larger campaign by the Plattsburgh YMCA, will ensure that they can expand current services that promote health, wellness, and mental health, and help to increase childcare services in Plattsburgh and Clinton County.\n\nDelivered Over $285,000 To Develop A Plattsburgh Welding Workforce Training Program:\n\nSenator Schumer\u2019s leadership was key in delivering a historic funding increase for the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) through the Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations bill. This funding increase supported the $285,600 NBRC investment, which Schumer pushed for the Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce to develop a comprehensive welding training program at the Clinton Community College\u2019s Institute for Advanced Manufacturing to train 50 individuals and prepare them to enter the workforce as a welder.\n\nSecured $350,000 To Rehabilitate Historic Trudeau Building And Create Jobs In Saranac Lake:\n\nThrough his work on the Fiscal Year 2022 omnibus, Senator Schumer delivered record-high funding for the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC). In turn, the NBRC provided $350,000 to rehabilitate the historic Trudeau Building in Saranac Lake to create an accessible history museum campus in the downtown that will create jobs and drive economic development in the Adirondack North Country.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/meng-and-markey-urge-additional-money-for-7-billion-fund-they-created", "Meng and Markey Urge Additional Money for $7 Billion Fund They Created Last Year that Helps More Students Access the Internet; Program Has Provided Millions to Schools and Libraries in Queens and NYC", "2022-12-16", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Grace Meng", "M001188", "meng.house.gov", "meng", "https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) and Senator Edward Markey (D-MA) today called on House and Senate leaders to provide another $1 billion for the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF), the $7.1 billion dollar program the two lawmakers helped create last year that connects more students to the internet. The money, which pays for devices and broadband services, helps students who have had no internet access get online, and schools and libraries in Queens and New York City have received millions from the program.\n\n\"I am proud to have helped create the Emergency Connectivity Fund which has greatly benefited schools and libraries here in Queens and New York City including funds for the Queens Public Library,\" said Meng. \"The money has helped local students connect to the internet after many lacked an internet connection, and it has done so as our borough and city have recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, during which we saw how crucial internet access is for our kids' schoolwork. But we need more funding to keep the program going, and I urge congressional leaders to ensure that additional funds are allocated.\"\n\nMeng and Markey made their request for the increased funding in a letter they sent to the House Speaker, House Minority Leader and the Senate Majority and Minority Leaders, asking that the money be included in an upcoming spending bill that funds the federal government.\n\nThis additional funding would be sufficient for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to fund every valid application it received in the most recent application window. In May, the FCC announced that it had received more than $2.8 billion in requests for ECF funds in the most recent application window \u2013 far more than the estimated $1.5 billion in remaining funds.\n\n\"Without congressional action, we may stumble over this digital cliff with devastating consequences,\" Meng and Markey wrote in their letter. \"Kids who relied on ECF-provided laptops and hotspots to complete their homework could suddenly find themselves in the dark, returned to pre-ECF years when they struggled to keep up with their connected classmates. Teachers who counted on the ECF program to allow them to draft lesson plans and connect to students and their parents at home will lose these crucial resources.\"\n\n\"This impact will fall hardest on the low-income, disadvantaged, and rural communities that relied most heavily on the ECF,\" the lawmakers also wrote. \"The end of the Emergency Connectivity Fund will effectively turn an important investment in our students into stranded assets and a wasted opportunity. [\u2026] To avoid this damaging outcome, we urge you to support an additional $1 billion in funding for the Emergency Connectivity Fund as part of the disaster supplemental division in the fiscal 2023 omnibus. We cannot let millions of students fall back into the digital divide.\"\n\nThe spending bill that Meng and Markey are seeking to include the $1 billion in is the disaster supplemental division of the year-end omnibus legislation. The two helped create the Emergency Connectivity Fund by securing the program in the American Rescue Plan, the COVID-19 relief bill that was enacted in 2021.\n\nTheir full letter can be viewed here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://morelle.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-joe-morelle-named-ranking-member-committee-house-administration", "CONGRESSMAN JOE MORELLE NAMED RANKING MEMBER OF COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION", "2022-12-16", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Joseph D. Morelle", "M001206", "morelle.house.gov", "morelle", "https://morelle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 Congressman Joe Morelle has been nominated by incoming Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries to serve as Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration for the 118th Congress. A Ranking Member is the most senior member of a Congressional committee from the minority party.\n\n\u201cCongressman Joe Morelle is a leader in our Caucus who is deeply respected by Members on both sides of the aisle for his ability to bring people together to get things done,\u201d said incoming Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. \u201cHis reputation as a problem solver and fighter for our Democratic values dates back to his service as Majority Leader in the New York State Assembly. In Congress, Joe has been a champion for Upstate New York and has worked relentlessly to lower costs for working families. He brings a depth of experience to this critical role as a result of his dedicated service on the Rules, Budget and Appropriations Committees.\n\n\u201cI am humbled and honored by the confidence Leader Jeffries has placed in me,\u201d said Congressman Morelle. \u201cI want to recognize and thank outgoing House Administration Chairperson Zoe Lofgren for her longstanding service, leadership, and passionate advocacy. I look forward to the work ahead and the opportunity to partner with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to protect our democracy and build a stronger future for every American.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/with-chinese-chip-companies-threatening-national-security-and-jobs-schumer-announces-president-has-heeded-his-call-and-will-add-ymtc_one-of-chinas-leading-chip-makers--to-a-trade-blacklist-administration-action-will-strengthen-national-security-and-protect-the-domestic-chip-industry-", "WITH CHINESE CHIP COMPANIES THREATENING NATIONAL SECURITY AND JOBS, SCHUMER ANNOUNCES PRESIDENT HAS HEEDED HIS CALL AND WILL ADD YMTC \u2013 ONE OF CHINA\u2019S LEADING CHIP MAKERS \u2013 TO A TRADE BLACKLIST;...", "2022-12-16", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "With Upstate NY Growing As a Global Hub For The Microchip Industry, Thanks To Schumer\u2019s Historic CHIPS And Science Law, Feds Just Delivered A New Protection To Limit Chinese Growth In The Semiconductor Industry And Help Ensure More Microchips Are Made In Places Like Upstate NY, Not China\n\nFor Months, Schumer Highlighted How China\u2019s YMTC Posed An Immediate Threat To Our National Security; Now They Are Added To Ban List Along With Other Chinese Communist Party-Backed Companies\n\nSchumer: Today\u2019s Action Will Protect Our National Security And Our Domestic Chip Manufacturers To Help Make The Future In Places Like Syracuse, Not Shanghai\n\nOn the heels of his all-out push started in Albany and Syracuse to limit Chinese chip companies in U.S. supply chains, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced, that after months of advocacy, the Biden administration has added Chinese memory chipmaker Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC) and dozens of other Chinese companies to a trade blacklist, restricting U.S. exports of advanced U.S. technology that could be used by these companies to advance the Chinese Communist Party\u2019s military and economic agenda. This builds on Schumer successfully securing the inclusion of his bipartisan amendment last week to prohibit the U.S. government\u2019s use of chips made in China, including by YMTC, in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023. Schumer said that today\u2019s action, combined with his amendment, will help limit the prevalence of Chinese-made chips in U.S. supply chains, strengthening national security, keeping New Yorkers\u2019 data safe, and boosting demand for more domestically made microchips, including from places like Upstate New York.\n\n\u201cBy adding China\u2019s YMTC to the trade blacklist, the Biden administration is taking a much-needed action to protect national security and send a clear signal that the future of technology should be made in America in places like Syracuse not Shanghai, in the Capital Region not China. I\u2019ve long sounded the alarm on the grave national security and economic threats posed by YMTC and other CCP-backed technology companies, like CXMT and SMIC,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cBecause of my CHIPS and Science bill, Upstate New York is seeing unprecedented investment and thousands of new jobs rebuilding American microchip manufacturing. To win the 21st century we need to secure our supply chains, and this decisive action by the Biden administration, in tandem with my amendment in the NDAA and the major investment from the CHIPS bill, will help level the playing field for Upstate NY chip manufacturers and put our national security, privacy, and defense first.\u201d\n\nSchumer said that YMTC is one of China\u2019s largest chipmakers, and that their inclusion to the U.S. export blacklist, along with other major Chinese companies, will limit the CCP\u2019s ability to expand their military and technological capabilities, protecting our national security and domestic investment in technology.\n\nSchumer explained that semiconductors are essential not only in our daily lives, with microchips being used in everything from smartphones and household appliances to cars, but also is vital to our national security with our military technology and critical infrastructure fully reliant on these chips.\n\nThis announcement comes on the heels of Schumer\u2019s bipartisan amendment, introduced with Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), that was just included in the NDAA to limit the U.S. government use of semiconductors from Chinese companies. Specifically, Schumer\u2019s amendment will limit the federal procurement of products or services that use microchips produced by three major Chinese suppliers, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), and Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC), all with known links to Chinese state security and intelligence apparatuses. This provision will help reduce the U.S. dependence on China and protect national security by ensuring that the U.S. government, its suppliers, and U.S. taxpayers do not directly or indirectly fund the Chinese military. This provision will also help ensure that chips produced by Chinese chipmakers cannot be weaponized in products sold to the U.S. Government, and will help position Upstate New York to supply more chips needed by our military and other critical infrastructure by replacing Chinese-made chips in the supply chains of companies that do business with the U.S. government.\n\nSchumer has been the leading champion of bringing semiconductor manufacturing back to America and has a long history of fighting to secure microchip investment for Upstate New York. Going back to 2019,Schumer proposed a major tech investment \u201cmoon shot\u201d in cutting-edge technologies like semiconductors to out-compete China. Schumer then spent the next three years working to pass into law this vision \u2013 ultimately manifesting itself into the CHIPS and Science Act, which makes a generational investment in innovation and manufacturing, including providing over $52 billion in new federal incentives for microchip manufacturing and research and development in the U.S., along with the creation of a new federal investment tax credit to support the expansion of domestic microchip production.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://espaillat.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-adriano-espaillat-introduces-earth-bill", "Representative Adriano Espaillat Introduces The Earth Bill", "2022-12-15", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Adriano Espaillat", "E000297", "espaillat.house.gov", "espaillat", "https://espaillat.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) introduced The Earth Bill, legislation that aims to bolster America\u2019s transition to renewable energy practices and address the inequitable impact that extreme weather events linked to climate change have on vulnerable communities around our nation.\n\nRecent studies show that people of color, women, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, low-income persons, and individuals with underlying health conditions, face even greater health risks due to climate change. In addition, the National Centers for Environmental Information found that in 2021, there were 20 climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each to affect the United States. If inaction continues, the United States and the world will begin to see even more devastating effects such as food insecurity, drought, poverty, and displacement.\n\n\u201cGreenhouse gas concentrations are at their highest levels in two million years and the decade from 2010-2019 was the warmest decade on record, according to the United Nations,\u201d said Rep. Espaillat. \u201cCommunities of color are disproportionately impacted at much higher rates by this warming although they are the least responsible for contributing factors. We stand to lose the most if we fail to address climate change in ways that present real comprehensive solutions. My bill addresses these impacts and works to avoid mounting loss of life, biodiversity, and infrastructure. We must take ambitious, accelerated action to adapt to climate change, while also making rapid, deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. Congress must step in to enact bold legislation that effectively addresses the climate crisis we face, because the changes we make today will have resounding benefits here at home and around the world.\u201d\n\nEspaillat\u2019s Earth Bill:\n\n1. Mandates 100 percent renewable electricity production by 2030;\n\n2. Amends the Clean Air Act to mandate 100 percent zero emission motor vehicle production;\n\n3. Establishes 100 percent regenerative agricultural practices in the United States; and\n\n4. Creates grant programs to assist in the transition to renewable electricity, zero emission vehicles, and regenerative agriculture.\n\nEspaillat\u2019s Earth Bill is endorsed by Climate Crisis Policy, The Earth Bill Network, Eco-Justice Collaborative, New York Progressive Action Network, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Jefferson County Farmers & Neighbors, Santa Cruz Climate Action Network, Green Team Academy, GreenLatinos, and Oceanic Global.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/meng-and-casten-introduce-bill-to-expand-access-to-menstrual-products", "Meng and Casten Introduce Bill to Expand Access to Menstrual Products", "2022-12-15", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Grace Meng", "M001188", "meng.house.gov", "meng", "https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY) and Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL) introduced the Period PROUD (Providing Resources to Our Underserved and Disadvantaged) Act of 2022 to expand accessibility to menstrual products for those with limited access.\n\nMenstrual products are often considered a luxury, with the cost averaging $13.25 a month, forcing many women to make difficult decisions such as choosing between sanitary pads or food. The Period PROUD Act would provide funding through the Social Services Block Grant program to remove cost barriers to menstrual products and educate school officials on how to best communicate with students in need of these products.\n\n\"Menstrual products are a health care right and a human right and no one should have to choose between buying food or buying basic needs like menstrual products. That is why I have led the fight in Congress to combat period poverty and ensure women and girls have safe and affordable access to menstrual products through my Menstrual Equity for All Act,\" said Congresswoman Grace Meng. \"Period products are often classified as luxury products making them more expensive and often inaccessible to low-income individuals. The Period PROUD Act would provide funding to help remove cost barriers to menstrual products and I am proud to partner with Congressman Casten in the fight to end period poverty.\"\n\n\"No one should be forced to choose between paying their bills or buying menstrual products,\" said Rep. Casten. \"The Period PROUD Act removes that cost-barrier for the 22 million women living in poverty and ensures that a period will never have to prevent someone from going to school or showing up to work. Menstruation is a natural process and the products it requires should be freely accessible.\"\n\n\"Menstruation products should be free for everyone regardless of status, income, or religion. The Period PROUD Act of 2022 is essential to making this a reality in the United States,\" said Christian Nunes, President of the National Organization for Women. \"Removing the cost barriers around menstruation products and increasing accessibility affects us all, especially low-income communities. Menstruation products should not be a luxury for some because they are a necessity for all. It's time to enact a policy like the Period PROUD Act of 2022 to guarantee it.\"\n\n\"I Support the Girls (ISTG) is thrilled to see the Period P.R.O.U.D. (Providing Resources to Our Underserved and Disadvantaged) Act being introduced, sponsored by Representatives Casten and Meng. Menstrual equity is so often ignored, but it crosses racial, social, and regional divides,\" said Dana Marlowe, Executive Director of ISTG. \"I am so pleased to see that this Act will combat period poverty and promote equity for menstruating individuals, will ensure equal opportunity to attend school or not miss work due to one's period. Ample access to period products also reduces the potential for health complications. We support this legislation and are excited to see it move forward.\"\n\n\"Menstrual equity does not only impact those who menstruate, but has an impact on the overall health and strength of entire communities,\" said Meghan Freebeck, Chief Executive Officer of Simply the Basics. \"When basic needs are more accessible, we create greater opportunities for people in their education, employability, and overall wellness. Simply the Basics is built on the foundation that all of our basic hygiene needs should be equitable and accessible, and for that reason we are proud to endorse Period PROUD.\"\n\n\"Girls should never miss school because they can't afford period products. This initiative will be an important step in improving health, education, and opportunities,\" said Dr Stephanie Hull, President and CEO of Girls Inc.\n\nCurrent endorsing organizations: The Period Collective, #HappyPeriod, I Support the Girls, National Organization for Women, American Association of University Women Naperville IL Chapter, Girls Inc., Simply the Basics.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://morelle.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-joe-morelle-introduces-legislation-support-dairy-farmers-lower", "CONGRESSMAN JOE MORELLE INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT DAIRY FARMERS, LOWER MILK PRICES FOR FAMILIES", "2022-12-15", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Joseph D. Morelle", "M001206", "morelle.house.gov", "morelle", "https://morelle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) - Today, Congressman Joe Morelle introduced legislation to restore stability to the dairy sector and lower the cost of milk for everyday families. The Dairy Pricing Opportunity Act will allow the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and dairy producers to consider proposals to adjust the federal milk pricing system, in turn reducing costs at the grocery store for consumers.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re all feeling the effects of high prices, and volatility in the dairy market means uncertainty at the supermarket,\u201d said Congressman Joe Morelle. \u201cI\u2019m proud to introduce this legislation that will result in lower milk prices at the grocery store, easing the financial burden on families at a time when they need it most. New York State has a proud history of dairy production, and my bill will help continue that legacy for farmers struggling under the current pricing system while supporting everyday consumers.\"\n\nNew York is the fourth largest dairy producing state, and the complicated structure of their pricing system along with increased competition from plant-based products is leaving our dairy farmers without adequate pay. This has resulted in the loss of almost 40,000 dairy herds since 2003 and increased costs for consumers. The Dairy Pricing Opportunity act corrects this by requiring the USDA to hold public hearings and receive input from dairy producers on how best to repair the faulty pre-pandemic federal pricing policies and lower the price of milk.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://velazquez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/vel-zquez-remarks-puerto-rico-status-act", "Vel\u00e1zquez Remarks on the Puerto Rico Status Act", "2022-12-15", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez", "V000081", "velazquez.house.gov", "velazquez", "https://velazquez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "\"Madame Speaker I rise today in support of H.R. 8393 \u2018The Puerto Rico Status Act.'\n\n\"For 124 years Puerto Rico, the nation where I was born and raised, has been a colony of the United States.\n\n\"Invaded by the United States during the 1898 Spanish American War, Puerto Rico has remained in a state of colonial limbo that flies in the face of the anticolonial values upon which the American Republic was founded.\n\n\"Congress's unlimited plenary powers over Puerto Rico are reminiscent of the monarchical powers enjoyed by King George III against which the founders of the American Republic so bravely fought.\n\n\"If Hamilton and Madison were alive today, they would be shocked to see how the anticolonial Constitution they drafted in 1787 is currently used to legitimize colonialism in Puerto Rico over three hundred year later. Advocating now for the continuation of the status quo on the island is the height of hypocrisy. Colonialism has destroyed the Puerto Rican economy. Colonialism has divided the Puerto Rican people. Colonialism has eaten away our people's sense of dignity and self-worth.\n\n\"Colonialism has made the people of Puerto Rico both psychologically and economically dependent on the United States. Colonialism is not only humiliating for Puerto Rico, but it is an embarrassment to the United States. The United States that holds itself out as a leader of the free world that stands up to imperialist tyrants abroad while keeping colonies in the Caribbean and the Pacific.\n\n\"Puerto Rico's colonial crisis is not a simple domestic issue, as some erroneously believe. Make no mistake- this is an international issue that directly affects America's standing and image around the world, which is why this double talk must come to end.\n\n\"The time has come to fully decolonize Puerto Rico.100 years after the US Supreme Court's decision in Balzac \u2013the last \"Insular Case\" \u2013 and 70 years after the ratification of the territorial constitution of 1952. History calls upon us to put politics aside and do right by the people of Puerto Rico.\n\n\"For the last two years I have been tirelessly fighting to craft a bill for Puerto Rico that is anticolonial, fair, and transparent. And that will first and foremost, put the people of Puerto Rico---who since the days of the 1898 invasion have remained on the sideline--- front and center.\n\n\"From Puerto Rico to Florida and yes to the barrios of New York---the ones I am proud to represent, the voices of boricuas are now finally being heard. Let's not forget that it is thanks to the vibrant Puerto Rican diaspora from Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx that my colleague Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and myself are able to walk these halls of Congress today.\n\n\"Today I stand on the shoulders of millions of Puerto Ricans who had to flee Puerto Rico because its colonial condition has not allowed them to live on the island where they were born. But Puerto Ricans are strong. They have been kicked out of their home and yet have managed to succeed and flourish in cold and foreign places and have graced us with the likes of Lola Rodr\u00edguez de Ti\u00f3, Mar\u00eda Libertad G\u00f3mez, Nilita Vient\u00f3s Gast\u00f3n, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Rita Moreno, Julia de Burgos, and Mari Carmen Aponte, among many others. I feel so honored to be here standing today on the shoulders of all these women and many others who have paved the way.\n\n\"But more importantly, we are here today for the people on the island. Those who suffer everyday because the prices they pay for necessities like electricity and food is sky high thanks to the Jones Act.\n\n\"For those who have lost all their appliances time and time again because we have failed in helping the island to keep the lights on. And for those who have lost loved ones after Maria, the earthquakes, COVID-19 and, most recently, Fiona.\n\n\"We are here today because we must move towards decolonization. The current status is unsustainable and fundamentally unfair and un-American.\n\n\"The process that has led us up to here has been contentious, complex, and full of debate. It is no secret that the members advocating for this bill, including myself, hold differing opinions on what non-colonial option is best for the people of Puerto Rico.\n\nThe consensus bill before us today, clearly defines Puerto Rico's non-territorial status options, namely Free-Association, Independence, and Statehood. It is the first time Congress recognizes free association as a separate decolonizing formula.\n\n\"More importantly, this bill includes dual citizenship rights under both the independence and free association options. I fought hard for the incorporation of these provisions because Congress has the moral obligation to offer Puerto Rico the necessary tools to transition to a new postcolonial order. And yes\u2026 that includes financial resources to make Puerto Rico whole after 124 years of exploitation of natural resources and environmental degradation.\n\n\"The Puerto Rico Status Act provides for an objective, nonpartisan, federally funded voter education campaign leading up to the vote, while authorizing the necessary funds to carry out a nonpartisan voter education campaign, an initial plebiscite and, if necessary, a runoff plebiscite. H.R. 8393 ensures the implementation of the option that is chosen by a majority of eligible voters in Puerto Rico.\n\n\"In closing, I would like to thank Leader Hoyer for being an honest broker in this process and to Chairman Grijalva, Representatives Ocasio Cortez, Soto, and the delegate from Puerto Rico Gonzalez Col\u00f3n. We are making history together. Thank you for everything.\n\n\"And finally, a thank you to all the staff who worked night and day for months on end to get us to this point. No matter their committee or office, they should be applauded for their dedication to this effort.\n\n\"I ask the members of this House to support this bill. The people of Puerto Rico deserve it. I yield back.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/meng-condemns-purdue-university-northwest-chancellor-s-racism-toward", "Meng Condemns Purdue University Northwest Chancellor\u2019s Racism Toward Asians", "2022-12-14", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Grace Meng", "M001188", "meng.house.gov", "meng", "https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), Vice Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, issued the following statement condemning the racist, insensitive, and offensive imitation made by Purdue University Northwest Chancellor, Thomas L. Keon.\n\n\"Honestly, I don't know what is more hurtful. The fact that Chancellor Keon thought his joke was funny, or that many in the audience laughed. Over the past few years, we have seen the evidence of harm that these stereotypical tropes and racist caricatures, even in so-called jest, can perpetuate among our communities. The comments made by Keon were offensive and dangerous,\" said Congresswoman Meng. \"His racist imitation no doubt caused pain to the student body and faculty at Purdue University Northwest and so many more. We have to continue to call out instances like these so that they never become the norm in our schools, neighborhoods and nation.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://espaillat.house.gov/media/press-releases/espaillat-jayapal-schakowsky-panetta-introduce-working-immigrant-safety-and", "Espaillat, Jayapal, Schakowsky, Panetta Introduce the Working for Immigrant Safety and Empowerment (WISE) Act", "2022-12-13", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Adriano Espaillat", "E000297", "espaillat.house.gov", "espaillat", "https://espaillat.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC --U.S. Representatives Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), and Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) introduced the Working for Immigrant Safety and Empowerment (WISE) Act to protect immigrant survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and gender-based violence. The bill would ensure that immigrants have access to protections intended by the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the Trafficking Victim Protection Act (TVPA), and other federal and state laws. The bill would also move to ensure survivors pursuing relief are not detained or deported before their applications are fully adjudicated.\n\n\"Immigrant victims of domestic violence, trafficking, and gender-based assaults deserve protections regardless of their immigration status,\u201d said Congressman Adriano Espaillat. \u201cImmigrant survivors are less likely to report a crime in fear of detention and deportation, which makes them even more vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. These crimes are dehumanizing and reprehensible. We must do what it takes to ensure protections are in place and victims feel empowered to seek assistance. I am proud to join my colleagues in this effort to reaffirm our commitment to victims of violence when they need our help the most.\u201d\n\n\u201cProtections for survivors of crime goes beyond immigration\u2014this is about the safety and well-being of communities and families across the country. Survivors of gender-based violence, child abuse, human trafficking, and crime must be able to come forward without fear to seek safety and we must provide them with the necessary support to leave abusive situations. With this bill, we are reiterating our commitment to protect immigrant survivors, to empower them to seek help, and to ensure their safety is not tied up with their ability to stay in this country,\u201d said Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal.\n\n\u201cImmigrant women faced with domestic violence make up one of the most vulnerable populations in this country. These women should not feel forced to stay in violent, life-threatening intimate partner relationships because of their tenuous immigration status,\u201d said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. \"I am proud to co-lead the WISE Act to help ensure that all victims of domestic violence, regardless of immigration status, have access to the public resources and support they need to escape abuse.\u201d\n\nImmigrant women and children are particularly vulnerable to domestic violence, and immigrant women face intimate partner violence at three times the national average. And while domestic violence remains a widely underreported issue, immigrant survivors of crime are less likely to report a crime committed against them due to fear of detention and deportation.\n\nThe WISE Act would strengthen protections for immigrant survivors by:\n\n* Eliminating arbitrary caps on the U Visa and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS).\n\n* Expanding qualifying crimes for the U Visa to include hate crimes, child abuse, and elder abuse as well as grant protections for abused children, stepchildren, spouses, and parents of immigrant survivors.\n\n* Granting work authorization to survivors while their applications are pending.\n\nProhibiting detention and deportation of immigrant survivors while their cases are pending.\n\n* Limiting the use or disclosure of information pertaining to a pending immigrant survivor\u2019s VAWA, T, U, or SIJ applications.\n\n* Limiting immigration enforcement at certain protected locations including any domestic violence shelter, rape crisis center, supervised visitation center, family justice center, or victim services providers, among other locations.\n\n* Ensuring survivors have the support necessary to thrive and reduce reliance on abusers by providing access to certain assistance, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Services Block Grant (SSBG), and Medicaid.\n\nNon-profit and advocacy organizations issued the following statements of support following the introduction of the WISE Act:\n\n\u201cAPI-GBV applauds Representative Jayapal, Schakowsky, and Espaillat for their leadership in making sure that the needs of immigrant survivors of domestic violence are lifted up during this Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The WISE bill takes important steps in ensuring that survivors in our communities can access vital protections in the Violence Against Women Act and the Trafficking Victims Protection Act as intended by Congress, making our communities safer,\u201d said Grace Huang, Policy Director at the Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence and Co-chair of the Alliance for Immigrant Survivors.\n\n\u201cImmigrant child survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and other harms urgently need the WISE Act\u2019s protections. Among its key reforms, this legislation would eliminate the needless Special Immigrant Juvenile visa cap, delivering safety and stability to abused, abandoned, and neglected children in the United States who would otherwise languish in legal limbo. KIND commends Representatives Jayapal, Schakowsky, and Espaillat for standing up for these vulnerable youth,\u201d said Wendy Young, President of KIND.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/meng-urges-postal-service-to-do-more-to-combat-mail-theft-in-queens", "Meng Urges Postal Service To Do More To Combat Mail Theft in Queens", "2022-12-13", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Grace Meng", "M001188", "meng.house.gov", "meng", "https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) urged the United States Postal Service (USPS) to do more to combat the theft of mail from green relay boxes in Queens.\n\nIn July, Meng wroteto the district manager who oversees postal operations in Queens calling for the Postal Service to address the problem. Although some changes were recently made, the Congresswoman wants to see them expanded, and in a follow-up letter to District Manager Frank Calabrese, called for additional steps be taken. They include:\n\nReducing the amount of time that mail is left in relay boxes to lower the chances of thieves stealing the envelopes inside;\n\nInstalling more locks on relay boxes including all that are located in Meng's congressional district; and\n\nNotifying the public \u2013 specifically those impacted \u2013 when mail in relay boxes has been stolen.\n\n\"Unfortunately, mail theft has been a growing problem in my district over the past year,\" said Congresswoman Meng. \"Constituents need to know that their mail, property and information is safe, and that is why the security of these relay boxes is so important. I'm glad that improvements were made for Queens residents following the letter I sent earlier this year. However, these upgrades must be expanded to help stop this continued theft of mail. I look forward to working with USPS to help make sure that borough residents no longer worry about their mail's security.\"\n\nMeng's letter also highlights that mail theft has drastic consequences for letter carriers who deliver our mail. Letter carriers are frequently targeted, sometimes violently, by mail thieves, and this wave of thefts from relay boxes threatens their physical safety as well as the crucial service they provide to the public.\n\n\"Combatting this crime not only protects the public's interests but protects the brave letter carriers who are on the frontline of this crisis, and I thank Congresswoman Meng for taking the lead on tackling this issue,\" said Tony Paolillo, President of the National Association of Letter Carriers Flushing Branch 294 which represents postal workers throughout Queens. \"For these men and women to have targets on their backs simply because of the mail they are trying to deliver is unacceptable. These letter carriers risked their lives in service to our communities through the COVID-19 pandemic, and they deserve to be protected. Every effort should be made to fully protect the letter carriers and the mail they deliver.\"\n\nThe dark green relay boxes are used to store mail and are located next to many of the blue collection boxes throughout the borough.\n\nMeng's efforts to protect mail in relay boxes comes after the Postal Service retrofitted blue collection boxes in Queens with mail slots after she urged the agency to do so. The Congresswoman made the request in 2018 to combat the problem of \u2018mail fishing' in the borough which is when criminals place string connected to a sticky material into the collection boxes, and \u2018fish' out the envelopes. The narrower slots make it more difficult for thieves to steal the mail that is inside.\n\nA copy of Meng's letter can be viewed here, and the text is below.\n\n---------------------------\n\nMr. Frank Calabrese\n\nDistrict Manager\n\nUnited States Postal Service\n\n160 Duryea Road\n\nMelville, NY 11747\n\nDear Mr. Calabrese,\n\nI write to respectfully request that you consider expanding procedures meant to protect mail from relay box theft in my 6th Congressional District located in Queens, New York.\n\nAs you know, my constituents continue to experience the consequences of a surge in mail theft from dark green relay mailboxes. The safety of my constituents' mail would be greatly benefited by the expansion of procedures that require letter carriers to notify their post office when they have arrived at a relay box to have the mail deposited. Currently, mail is deposited into relay boxes independent of the letter carrier. These new procedures, which the United States Postal Service (USPS) has implemented on a limited basis, reduce the time mail spends in a relay box thus, reducing the risk of theft.\n\nI also encourage the USPS to continue improving the physical security of relay boxes. I applaud the recent implementation of additional locks to prevent theft and urge you to consider expanding these upgrades to all relay boxes in my district. Without these additional locks, relay boxes remain an easy target for theft. I respectfully ask the USPS to provide my office with a briefing on the extent of these retrofitting efforts in my district.\n\nFinally, I encourage the USPS to continue in its obligation to notify the affected public when it is evident that a mailbox or relay box has been breached. When mail is stolen, time is of the essence, and a notification from the USPS can give victims the edge to combat fraud. Especially during the holiday season, I encourage the USPS to make this practice a priority.\n\nMail theft is a serious crime with dire consequences for its victims. Criminals can steal identities, remove money from bank accounts, and more. And mail theft has increasingly put postal employees at risk. Letter carriers have been the victims of violent robberies in New York City and across the country. In some instances, carriers have been targeted specifically for their arrow keys, which can open several relay boxes in a given area. We ask a great deal of letter carriers. After years of risking their lives through multiple waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, continuing to persist no matter what, it is unacceptable that letter carriers now fear being attacked on the job. It is paramount for the USPS to protect letter carriers and the mail they deliver. USPS's failure to do so jeopardizes the trust the American people have put in them.\n\nI appreciate your immediate attention to this matter. I look forward to your response detailing a course of action to prevent mail theft in my district.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/majority-leader-schumer-floor-remarks-on-the-syracuse-mens-soccer-team-historic-victory-in-the-ncaa-championship-", "MAJORITY LEADER SCHUMER FLOOR REMARKS ON THE SYRACUSE MEN\u2019S SOCCER TEAM HISTORIC VICTORY IN THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP", "2022-12-13", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2013 Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor to congratulate the Syracuse men\u2019s soccer team for winning the NCAA College Cup national championship. Below are Senator Schumer\u2019s remarks, which can also be viewed here:\n\nBefore I begin, I just want to extend a massive \u2013 massive -congratulations to the Syracuse Orange men\u2019s soccer team for winning the NCAA College Cup national championship last night in a heart stopping 7-6 victory, after penalty kicks.\n\nA big congrats to Coach McIntyre, all the amazing players, and the staff, on a phenomenal accomplishment, the first in Syracuse history.\n\nGo Orange!\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-statement-on-the-university-of-rochesters-laser-lab-contributions-in-groundbreaking-fusion-energy-breakthrough", "SCHUMER STATEMENT ON THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER\u2019S LASER LAB CONTRIBUTIONS IN GROUNDBREAKING FUSION ENERGY BREAKTHROUGH", "2022-12-13", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "For The First Time Scientists- Supported By UR\u2019s Laser Lab- Have Produced A Fusion Reaction That Creates A Net Energy Gain \u2014 A Major Milestone In The Quest To Create Zero-Carbon Power Through Nuclear Fusion And Fight Climate Change; The Laser Shot Which Resulted In Ignition Was Developed With Rochester Trained LLE Scientists\n\nIn 2018 UR\u2019s Laser Lab Was At Risk Of Closing, But Schumer Fought Non-Stop To Increase Federal Support To Keep The Lab Open- Now Thanks To Schumer\u2019s Efforts Rochester Scientists Have Helped Achieve One Of The Biggest Clean Energy Innovations In Decades\n\nSchumer: Major Discovery Brings Focus To Rochester Laser Lab As World Leader In Clean Energy Research\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 After fighting for years to save the University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) and increase funding to the facility, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer today released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced for the first time that scientists supported by Rochester\u2019s LLE have produced a nuclear fusion reaction with a net energy gain- a major milestone in fight against climate change and creating cheap, clean power:\n\nU.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said, \u201cThe University of Rochester\u2019s Lab for Laser Energetics (LLE), fueled by its 400 Rochester workers, is a key partner in our nation\u2019s Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) program that today produced this breakthrough at Lawrence Livermore National Labs and is a powerhouse in our nation\u2019s long-sought pursuit to create a new unlimited source of clean energy from fusion. This astonishing scientific advance puts us on the precipice of a future no longer reliant on fossil fuels but instead powered by new clean fusion energy which is why I fought and ultimately succeeded four years ago in reversing a plan that would have then closed the Rochester Laser Lab for good. Instead I secured record funding to expand their work because making this future clean energy world a reality will require our physicists, innovative workers, and brightest minds at our DOE-funded institutions, including the Rochester Laser Lab, to double down on their cutting-edge work.\u201d\n\nSchumer added, \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m also proud to announce today that I\u2019ve helped to secure the highest ever authorization of over $624 million this year in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the ICF program to build on this amazing breakthrough.\u201d\n\nAccording to DOE, for the first time every scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Labs (LLNL) have, achieved ignition of a fusion reaction that created a net gain of energy. Fusion, which is produced by combining atoms to produce energy is the same reaction which powers our sun and has long been pursued as an ideal energy source due to its potential to be a safe, clean, cheap, and reliable. The LLE has played a significant role in reaching this historic scientific achievement. DOE\u2019s National Nuclear Security Administration\u2019s (NNSA) Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) program maintains only three unique, world-leading science facilities: the NIF at LLNL in California, the Z Pulsed Power Facility (Z) at Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico, and LLE\u2019s Omega Laser Facility. As LLNL\u2019s principal partner and the largest DOE university-based program in the nation, LLE educates and trains scientists, who are able to perform experiments at LLE before they scale them on the NIF. Several of the researchers on the project were educated and trained at LLE\u2019s Omega Laser Facility and researchers at LLE developed diagnostics included in the laser shot that resulted in ignition. In addition, LLE scientists were involved in the \u201cred team\u201d review of the initial results.\n\nThis discovery would not have been possible without years of steadfast advocacy by Senator Schumer to both save and increase funding for Rochester\u2019s Laser Lab and the overall DOE ICF program which supports the LLE, LLNL, and Sandia National Lab\u2019s Z Pulsed Power Facility. In 2018, after a budget proposal recommended to defund the Laser Lab within three years and eliminate hundreds of high-tech jobs in Rochester, Schumer launched an all-out push to reverse the closure plan and instead increase funding for the Lab. Later that same year, Schumer announced that he had been successful in his push to reject the proposed cuts, and since has consistently delivered robust funding increases to the Lab and ICF program to make discoveries like today\u2019s possible. The senator helped secure $75 million in FY2018, $80 million in FY2019 & FY2020, $82 million in FY2021, and $83 million in FY2022.\n\nIn addition, Schumer has been a leading advocate for increasing support for key programs that support Rochester\u2019s Laser Lab like the DOE\u2019s National Nuclear Security Administration\u2019s (NNSA) Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) program. The ICF program is critical to maintaining safe, secure, and effective nuclear deterrent maintained through the Stockpile Stewardship Program. This program establishes the United States as a leader in technology and attracts talented scientists, engineers, and students dedicated to achieving controlled fusion laboratory, which made the discovery today. Schumer just delivered the highest ever authorization ever of over $624 million in this year in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the program, which he says will supercharge discoveries like this even further,\n\nEstablished in 1970, the University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) is a unique and critical national resource for research and education in science and technology. LLE is the largest U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) university-based research program in the nation and is home to the OMEGA lasers (Omega and Omega EP) \u2013 two of the largest and most capable lasers at any academic institution in the world. The LLE employs over 400 workers in Rochester and supports another 500 workers at optics, photonics, and imaging companies located throughout the Rochester Finger Lakes region.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/with-respiratory-viruses-skyrocketing-in-north-country-children-schumer-will-call-on-feds-to-launch-nationwide-action-plan-to-help-overwhelmed-upstate-hospitals-with-over-300-rsv-cases-in-st-lawrence-health-system-and-hundreds-more-across-north-country-schumer-will-call-on-feds-to-help-protect-ny-children-keep-our-hospitals-prepared-and-combat-rsv-before-its-too-late-", "WITH RESPIRATORY VIRUSES SKYROCKETING IN NORTH COUNTRY CHILDREN, SCHUMER WILL CALL ON FEDS TO LAUNCH NATIONWIDE ACTION PLAN TO HELP OVERWHELMED UPSTATE HOSPITALS; WITH OVER 300 RSV CASES IN ST....", "2022-12-10", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV), Has Reached Unprecedented Levels In Hospitals Nationwide At Nearly 7x The Weekly Rate Pre-Covid According To The CDC, Last Month Nearly 6/7 Pediatric Emergency Patients in Watertown\u2019s Samaritan Medical Center Had RSV\n\nRSV Can Be Serious For Young Children And The Elderly \u2013 Just Last Week, Canton Central School Had Nearly 15% Of Students Out With Mostly Respiratory Viruses \u2013 In This Season Alone, St. Lawrence Health System Has Had Well Over 300 RSV Cases \u2013 With Flu Sky Rocketing As Well\n\nSenator Says Feds Need A Comprehensive Plan To Address RSV and Be Ready to Send in Federal Support the Moment It\u2019s Needed\n\nSchumer: RSV Is On The Rise, And Feds Need To Step Up To Help Upstate Hospitals\n\nStanding in Lewis County as Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV) and other respiratory illnesses surge in children across the North Country, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer launched a major new push to increase federal support for Upstate hospitals strained by the dramatic increase in RSV cases. Flanked by frontline doctors, Schumer explained that this is the busiest RSV and flu season that Upstate hospitals like Lewis County General Hospital and the St. Lawrence Health System has ever seen, with nearly 300 RSV cases just last month alone in St. Lawrence\u2019s hospitals and nearly 80% of the patients this season being children, Lewis County is averaging 70 cases a month contributing to an overwhelmed regionally health system. Schumer said the spiking levels of RSV with growing flu rates warrants immediately federal action, and called for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to be ready to act at a moment\u2019s notice to provide whatever support upstate hospitals need. Schumer reported that the federal government has unique authority to help, with the power to support temporary structures, surge staffing if there are not enough pediatricians available, moving patients across states lines, credentialing out of state providers, enhancing the use of telehealth, coordinating medical supply chains and more.\n\n\u201cNorth Country hospitals are facing an unprecedented surge in RSV cases among children, and public health experts all say it is only going to get worse as we enter the cold winter months. Normally, RSV cases start to grow in October and November before peaking in December and January. It is outright scary given that hospitals are already struggling to keep up, and it\u2019s possible the worst is yet to come. As a grandfather to two young children, there is nothing more terrifying than the thought of them getting sick, and all across the North Country and Upstate NY parents are facing hospitals who are pushed to the brink, with increased wait times, full beds, all while their child is struggling to breathe because of RSV,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cHospitals are doing their best on the frontlines, but the feds need to step up with a comprehensive plan to respond to this major spike and be ready for it to get worse. The feds have a unique ability to get more doctors and supplies where it\u2019s needed, and they need to be prepared to do so. Nobody really knows what will come next, and if an Upstate hospital says they need something, the feds need to be able to say \u2018help is on the way right now.\u2019 Hospitals cannot afford to wait.\u201d\n\n\"We are thankful for Senator Schumer's ongoing commitment to addressing rural health access challenges in Lewis County and throughout the North Country. His advocacy and work to secure additional resources for our health system and hospitals across the state are vital if we are to safeguard local access to health care today, tomorrow, and for the next generation,\u201d said Gerald R. Cayer, MPH, CEO of Lewis County Health System. \u201cLike other hospital health systems across the North Country, we are experiencing the stress and strain of the surge in respiratory illness, particularly the flu, COVID, and RSV over the last two months. As a result, we are seeing a significant increase in the volume of patients seeking care for respiratory illness in our primary care clinics, emergency department, and the hospital's inpatient unit.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, Schumer said that he is calling for HHS to be ready and, if requested by hospitals, use its unique authority to help. Tools at HHS\u2019 disposal includes the power to support temporary structures like screening tents, surge staffing if there are not enough pediatricians available, moving patients across states lines, credentialing out of state providers, enhancing the use of telehealth, coordinating medical supply chains and more.\n\nRSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Schumer said that while most adults recover in a week or two, RSV can be very serious, especially for young children and older adults. RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia (infection of the lungs) in children younger than 1 year of age in the United States.\n\nLast month, the Children\u2019s Hospital Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics warned of \u201cunprecedented levels\u201d of RSV combined with increasing flu circulation are pushing many hospitals to the breaking point. At nearby Samaritan Medical Center, the cases this year just so far have already exceeded last year\u2019s totals for many respiratory viruses like RSV and the Flu. Last month, Samaritan Medical Center, said that 85% of admissions into its pediatric unit had been respiratory related. During November and December there have been 34 RSV cases so far, 24 of those cases being children. These serious cases also mirror general spikes across the region, last week Canton Central School on Wednesday, approximately 15% of students were absent largely due to respiratory viruses. In St. Lawrence County during October, November and December there have been a total of 419 cases, 331 of those being children. This major strain also comes as flu cases also are spiking across New York State adding over 27,000 cases last week, placing further strain on the health system. Earlier this week Lewis County had over 35 flu cases in just one day. During November and December Samaritan Medical Center in Jefferson County has had over 205 flu cases so far, 103 of those cases being children. This is a 145 % increase from 2021. In St. Lawrence County, there have been a total of 205 flu cases in November and December. A majority of the cases, 148 cases, coming in just the first nine days of December.\n\nInfants 6 months and younger are getting hospitalized with RSV at more than seven times the weekly rate observed before the Covid-19 pandemic, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://clarke.house.gov/caucus-on-black-women-and-girls-statement-on-brittney-griners-release/", "CAUCUS ON BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS STATEMENT ON BRITTNEY GRINER\u2019S RELEASE", "2022-12-09", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Yvette D. Clarke", "C001067", "clarke.house.gov", "clarke", "https://clarke.house.gov/category/press-release/", "scraper", "The co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls issued the following statement on the release of Brittney Griner:\n\n\u201cAfter months of continued efforts, we are pleased to hear about the release of wrongfully detained Brittney Griner. We are relieved that Brittney Griner will finally return home and reunite with her family and those who love her.\n\n\u201cThroughout Griner\u2019s wrongful detainment, the Caucus on Black Women and Girls has advocated in support of her release and spoken out against the unjust treatment Griner faced.\n\n\u201cWe are grateful to those who kept fighting for her release and advocating on her behalf. We applaud the Biden administration for the tireless effort to secure Brittney Griner\u2019s safe release. Brittney Griner is a picture of strength and grace in the face of immense cruelty.\n\n\u201cAs this difficult chapter in Brittney\u2019s life ends and her horizons hold nothing but brighter tomorrows, let us continue our fight to secure the safety and dignity of Black women and girls at home and abroad.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/meng-and-schumer-hail-house-passage-of-meng-measure-to-spend-nearly-0", "Meng And Schumer Hail House Passage Of Meng Measure To Spend Nearly $120 Million To Address Flooding In Queens", "2022-12-09", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Grace Meng", "M001188", "meng.house.gov", "meng", "https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) applauded the House passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 7776) which includes Meng's legislation that seeks to address flooding in Queens.\n\nMeng's measure, which is part of the Water Resources and Development Act reauthorization, would authorize the Army Corps of Engineers to spend nearly $120 million to work with the City of New York in upgrading environmental infrastructure in the borough. These include projects to help improve water and wastewater infrastructure, storm water management and combined sewer overflows.\n\n\"As we have recently seen, storms and heavy rain have caused serious flooding and sewer overflows throughout Queens, resulting in damage to homes and other property,\" said Congresswoman Meng. \"That is why fighting for federal resources to help combat the problem has been a top priority of mine. Queens felt the brunt of Hurricane Ida last year and had to deal with more flooding caused by storms this year. Constituents shouldn't have to worry if their homes, cars and streets will flood every time rain is forecasted, and the House's passage of my legislation gets us one step closer to remedying the problem.\"\n\n\"Hurricane Ida devastated communities across New York, and Queens in particular suffered immense damage to its roads, businesses and homes, and lives were tragically lost,\" said Senator Schumer. \"I visited Queens after the storm with Representative Meng and we worked together to deliver this valuable federal support to improve flood protection and upgrade our water and sewer systems.\"\n\n\"As climate change advances and we combat one of our greatest threats, New Yorkers are facing dangerous flooding and extreme rainfall events with more and more frequency,\" said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. \"Representative Meng has fought tirelessly on behalf of Queens, and the passage of this legislation brings us one step closer to ensuring the Queens communities hit hardest by flooding have the resources to protect their homes, their streets, and their neighborhoods.\"\n\n\"I could not be more grateful for the leadership of Representative Grace Meng and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to bring us one step closer to securing $120 million in critically important infrastructure improvements for Queens,\" said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. \"Queens has experienced far more than its fair share of devastating extreme weather in recent years, from Superstorm Sandy to Hurricane Ida and beyond, overwhelming our inadequate infrastructure. But this vital pot of federal funding is nothing short of a game changer for The World's Borough as we continue to combat climate change with all our might.\"\n\nThe NDAA is the annual defense spending legislation, and the measure now heads to the Senate.\n\nThe Water Resources Development Act gives the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authority to carry out water development projects and studies, among other things. Allowing the Army Corps of Engineers to spend the money is the first step in the process. If signed into law, Congress would still need to provide funding for the Corps to carry out the environmental infrastructure projects in Queens.\n\nCongresswoman Meng is New York's senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, which provides funding for federal agencies and programs including the Army Corps.\n\nThis is the second time that the House approved Meng's legislation. It previously passed in June.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/meng-hails-house-passage-of-her-bill-to-ensure-women-and-girls-in", "Meng Hails House Passage Of Her Bill To Ensure Women And Girls In Refugee Camps Have Access To Bathrooms Without Fear Of Violence", "2022-12-09", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Grace Meng", "M001188", "meng.house.gov", "meng", "https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, applauded the House passage of her bipartisan Refugee Sanitation Facility Safety Act as part of the fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which is Congress' annual defense spending bill.\n\nMeng's legislation would ensure that women and girls in refugee camps are able to access bathrooms without fear of violence. While many hope to find safety in temporary refugee camps, violence and insecurity often follow. Women and girls are at higher risk of experiencing sexual assault and violence if they do not have separate and properly lit bathrooms. Meng's bill would remedy this problem by ensuring recipients of U.S. aid provide safe and secure access to sanitation facilities.\n\n\"I am thrilled to see this legislation pass the House as part of our annual defense spending bill. It addresses a critical issue: the safety of women and girls in refugee camps,\" said Congresswoman Meng. \"Women, girls, and other vulnerable populations must feel safe accessing the most basic of amenities while experiencing displacement in refugee camps. I am proud that this bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in the House of Representatives, and I look forward to seeing it signed into law after it clears the Senate.\"\n\n\"Refugees are among the most vulnerable populations in the world, especially women and girls. I'm thrilled that this commonsense measure to ensure women and girls have safe accommodations while using sanitation facilities at refugee camps will become law as part of the NDAA, said Congressman Lee Zeldin, who joined Meng in introducing the bill. \"I'm grateful to Congresswoman Meng for her tireless efforts to pass this important bipartisan initiative.\"\n\n\"Refugees International applauds the inclusion of the Refugee Sanitation Facility Safety Act into the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023,\" said Ann Hollingsworth, the Senior Director of Government Relations and Senior Policy Advisor for Refugees International. \"The Refugee Sanitation Facility Safety Act will require organizations that receive U.S. funding to ensure that women do not have to travel long distances to use the restroom, that there are separate bathroom facilities for men and women, and that adequate lighting is available. Refugee women and girls are at heightened risk for violence, and steps like these are important to reduce the risks that they will face harm. Refugees International thanks the legislation's sponsor, Representative Meng, and the bipartisan supporters of the Refugee Sanitation Facility Safety Act.\"\n\nThe Refugee Sanitation Facility Safety Act was originally introduced in 2019, and previously passed the House unanimously.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/standing-in-putnam-after-hundreds-of-dangerous-accidents-at-metro-north-crossings-schumer-blows-the-whistle-on-unsafe-rail-crossings-across-the-hudson-valley-and-launches-new-two-track-plan-to-make-metro-north-safer-for-hudson-valley-commuters-and-local-communities-", "STANDING IN PUTNAM, AFTER HUNDREDS OF DANGEROUS ACCIDENTS AT METRO-NORTH CROSSINGS, SCHUMER BLOWS THE WHISTLE ON UNSAFE RAIL CROSSINGS ACROSS THE HUDSON VALLEY AND LAUNCHES NEW TWO-TRACK PLAN TO MAKE...", "2022-12-09", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "With Metro-North Ridership Reaching Post-Pandemic Highs\u20134.8 Million Last Month\u2013Schumer Says Feds Need To Step Up To Boost Rail Safety For Commuters and Drivers\n\nAfter Horrific 2015 Valhalla Train Crash That Killed Six People, Schumer Pushed For Major Train Safety Increases\u2013Now He Wants Feds To Get All Aboard To Help Improve Life-Saving Measures For Train Crossings Critical To Putnam, Dutchess, Westchester And Hudson Valley Residents\n\nSchumer: Feds Must Fast Track Hudson Valley Rail-Safety Improvements\n\nStanding with community leaders, ACRE union members, train safety advocates, and local officials at one of five soon-to-be upgraded Metro-North highway-grade crossings in Garrison, New York, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today launched his two-track plan to make the Hudson Valley safer for commuters, drivers, pedestrians, first responders, and railroad employees.\n\nSchumer explained that Metro-North Crossings across the Hudson Valley have been notorious sites for hundreds car accidents \u2013 with local officials saying many near accidents constantly going unreported. Now, with the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA) passed, which includes over $9 billion in federal rail safety funding, Schumer said that it is a unique moment to finally get long overdue investments Hudson Valley communities have sought back on track.\n\n\u201cWe will never forget the tragedies in Valhalla and Spuyten Duyvil, and need to do more \u2013 and to do it faster \u2013 to achieve better rail safety for Hudson Valley commuters, rail workers, pedestrians and drivers. I have already secured $4 million to upgrade five Metro-North grade crossings in Dutchess and Putnam counties, but we can\u2019t let progress idle, which is why I am calling on the feds to get all aboard with my two-track plan to increase rail safety funding and fast track long overdue projects to keep commuters, workers and residents safe,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cMy plan would invest over $100 million to put in place common sense and widely desired measures for Hudson Valley families, drivers, and commuters. When I led the Bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Law to passage, it was desperately needed community investments like this that I had in mind. It is time to fast track these improvements and get the Hudson Valley residents the increased rail safety they deserve.\u201d\n\nSchumer revealed that he has already secured $4.4 million through the Commuter Authority Rail Safety Improvement (CARSI) program to make critical safety improvements at Manitou Station Road and four other grade crossings in Dutchess and Putnam Counties. This funding will help upgrade warning systems, boost accessibility, and help Metro-North to implement other new safety measures on its Hudson and Harlem Lines.\n\nSchumer said, however, that the feds cannot idle and that much more is needed to address rail safety across the Hudson Valley. For example, Schumer explained that the nearby Roaring Brook Road crossing in Westchester, located less than half a mile from Horace Greeley High School, has seen over 180 car accidents and 27 signal malfunctions in just the past five years alone. Schumer said this is only a small example of the hundreds of accidents and near accidents that occur at rail crossings across the Hudson Valley. In October 2022, Metro-North had its strongest ridership since March 2020, with over 4.8 million riders which Schumer said should make addressing these safety concerns a top priority.\n\nSchumer said he is launching a two-track plan for the feds to bolster rail safety across the Hudson Valley.\n\nFirst, following the horrific 2015 Valhalla train crash that killed six people, Schumer said he is pushing for $67 million to eliminate the dangerous grade crossing in the Town of New Castle that is also on Metro-North\u2019s Harlem line. Schumer said that even though local officials have worked for years to make safety improvements, the cost of building of eliminate the crossing has been too high for localities to take on their own. However, thanks to the new $3 billion in Railroad Crossing Elimination Program that he secured in the IIJA, the senator said the federal funding is now finally available to make projects like this happen and he is pushing for the Hudson Valley to be able to tap that pot. This would allow the Town of New Castle to build a bridge and eliminate the dangerous Harlem Line crossing near the Saw Mill River Parkway that has seen over 850 accidents in 15 years.\n\nSecond, building on his successful calls for Metro-North to install life-saving positive train control (PTC) technology, Schumer said he is also pushing to secure $45 million for additional system-wide safety improvements to enhance current PTC tech through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) program. The CRISI program is slated to receive $5 billion over five years thanks to the IIJA specifically for helping prevent dangerous train crashes, like those that have plagued Hudson Valley residents, including as recently as a few days ago. PTC is a communications and signaling system that can be used on railroads to prevent accidents caused by excessive speed and human error. Schumer said this technology works by automatically slowing trains down in the event of an emergency or if there\u2019s a dangerous obstacle on the tracks. Metro-North installed PTC on all its trains with a feature called Secure Positive Train Stop Release. The secure PTSR enables an operator to override the automatic stoppage of a train (the PTC system) if there is a known circuit problem, and to do so with a single push of a button. This button could easily be mis-pressed, so a modification to enhance the system with a series of matching codes is needed. The new system requires the train engineer to input a code provided by the dispatcher. Only once the codes match can the override button be activated. If funded, this grant would add the new code feature to the secure positive train stop release (Secure PTSR) to Metro-North trains, adding an additional step for train operators to type in a code to override the slowing down of the trains by dispatchers.\n\nThe Hudson Valley has long history of train accidents impacting Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester counties. In February 2015, a Metro-North train traveling on the Harlem line struck an SUV on its tracks at a grade crossing in Valhalla, New York, killing five passengers and the car driver and injuring many more\u2014the deadliest accident in Metro-North\u2019s history. In 2013, the Spuyten Duyvil tragedy was the deadliest train accident within New York City since 1991, losing four lives and seeing more than sixty people injured. Currently, Metro-North has 74 public highway-rail crossings and 34 private-highway rail crossings.\n\nResponding to these incidents and others, Schumer has been a fierce advocate for PTC and rail safety. PTC is a communications and signaling system that can be used on railroads to prevent collisions caused by excessive speed and human error. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has found dozens of passenger and freight rail accidents over the years that could have been prevented through the use of PTC, including the 2013 Spuyten Duyvil crash. In 2015, Schumer helped to secure a low-cost, federal Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) loan from the Department of Transportation (DOT) for $976.1 million to be used by the MTA and its railroads for PTC implementation. DOT gives RRIF priority to projects that provide public benefits, including benefits to public safety such as PTC. The nearly $1 billion in RRIF financing enabled the LIRR and Metro-North to swiftly install and implement PTC.\n\nIn the IIJA, Schumer secured several key rail safety provisions. This includes $33 million over five years to New York State for the formula Railway-Highway Crossing program to execute projects that reduce fatalities and injuries at railway grade crossings. Schumer also secured the above mentioned $3 billion in competitive funding for the Railroad Crossing Elimination program which seeks to reduce fatalities and injuries by providing physical separation through a tunnel, bridge, embankment, or similar infrastructure, and $5 billion for the competitive Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement program.\n\nSchumer was joined by Putnam County Legislator, Nancy Montgomery, the wife of Jim Lovell, a 58-year father of four among those killed in the Spuyten Duyvil derailment, Assemblywoman Sandy Galef, Cold Spring Mayor Kathleen E. Foley, New Castle Town Administrator Jill Simon Shapiro, New Castle Police Chief James D. Carroll, Association of Commuter Rail Employees Local Chairperson (Hudson) Christopher Duffy, and Putnam County representative to the MTA Board Neal Zuckerman.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://clarke.house.gov/congresswoman-clarke-issues-statement-on-the-passage-of-the-respect-for-marriage-act/", "CONGRESSWOMAN CLARKE ISSUES STATEMENT ON THE PASSAGE OF THE RESPECT FOR MARRIAGE ACT", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Yvette D. Clarke", "C001067", "clarke.house.gov", "clarke", "https://clarke.house.gov/category/press-release/", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:\n\nDecember 8, 2022\n\nMEDIA CONTACT:\n\ne: clarke.comms@mail.house.gov\n\nc: 347.387.5123\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) issued the following statement regarding the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act:\n\n\u201cThe Respect for Marriage Act has passed, and history is made! This pivotal legislation preserves more than the right for gay and interracial couples to marry, but sends a powerful and resounding message that discrimination is unwelcome in our modern society. Today is a step forward for justice and a reminder that we must and will always stand up for what is right and stand against what is wrong \u2013 no matter any bulwarks or bigots blocking the way.\n\nAllow me to send my heartfelt congratulations to the LGBTQ+ community, and to all those whose love is protected by today\u2019s progress. I understand how many of you have fought tirelessly and fearlessly for this moment. The passage of the Respect for Marriage Act is a testament to the power of your determination and will, and it is a victory that you should relish.\n\nAs we celebrate this momentous occasion and take pride in what it represents, let us also acknowledge the work that lies ahead. Our pursuit of a world where love and equality are the norm, and where no one has to fear discrimination, persecution, or bigotry must persist. Because let me be clear: this bill was necessitated only by the threat of partisan agitators and a hostile, activist Supreme Court working in unison to regress our nation and our communities. Today, they have failed. Today, marriage equality is the law of the land. And I will always rise to ensure it stays that way,\u201d said Congresswoman Clarke.\n\n###\n\nYvette D. Clarke has been in Congress since 2007. She represents New York\u2019s Ninth Congressional District, which includes Central and South Brooklyn. Clarke is a Senior Member of both the House Energy and Commerce Committee and House Committee on Homeland Security, where she serves as Chair of the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation Subcommittee.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://espaillat.house.gov/media/press-releases/espaillat-garc%C3%ADa-correa-statement-sinema-tillis-compromise", "Espaillat, Garc\u00eda, Correa Statement on the Sinema-Tillis Compromise", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Adriano Espaillat", "E000297", "espaillat.house.gov", "espaillat", "https://espaillat.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, Representatives Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Jes\u00fas G. \"Chuy\" Garc\u00eda (IL-04), and Jose Luis Correa (CA-46) released the following statement regarding the Sinema-Tillis framework.\n\n\u201cWe appreciate the ongoing Senate negotiations and recognition to act on the behalf of the nearly 2 million who are DACA recipients or migrants eligible for the program counting on us to ensure protections for Dreamers,\u201d said the members. \u201cIt\u2019s time for Congress to stop playing political games and move forward with meaningful and common sense immigration reform. We are deeply troubled by the Sinema-Tillis framework\u2019s continued assault on asylum seekers.\n\n\u201cOur nation has the moral and legal obligation to guarantee the right to seek asylum to individuals who arrive at our borders. The proposed plan would reinstate the Title 42 expulsion policy while significantly increasing funding for border security. It bolsters a deal to further militarize the border and lacks necessary accountability measures that comprehensive immigration reform would have delivered. In addition to border security funding, the Sinema-Tillis framework would also further expand the use of detention centers, which remain rife with abuse. It would lead to longer jail periods and extended time with limited access to legal counsel or due process. This inhumane proposal would also bar TPS recipients from receiving green cards. Finally, the current proposal creates a lifetime bar for individuals and their families to receive any immigration benefit, including asylum, and harsh sanctions for individuals who fail to appear in court regardless of their fear of persecution.\n\n\u201cWe cannot at this time, in good conscience, support the current framework.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/meng-and-carter-celebrate-inclusion-of-end-wildlife-trafficking-act-in", "Meng and Carter Celebrate Inclusion of End Wildlife Trafficking Act in NDAA", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Grace Meng", "M001188", "meng.house.gov", "meng", "https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Reps. Grace Meng (D-NY) and Buddy Carter (R-GA) applauded the inclusion of their bipartisan legislation to combat international wildlife trafficking and to strengthen interagency efforts to tackle the issue in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which passed the House of Representatives today. U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Rob Portman (R-OH) led the companion bill in the Senate.\n\nWildlife poaching and trafficking remains a serious transnational crime that threatens the conservation of vulnerable wildlife, security, and economic opportunity. It has also been linked to other organized criminal activities, including trafficking in narcotics, weapons, and people. The Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt (END) Wildlife Trafficking Reauthorization and Improvements Act (H.R. 5996) would reauthorize legislation that was signed into law in 2016 and expand the responsibilities of the Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking.\n\n\"I am thrilled that our END Wildlife Trafficking Reauthorization Act has passed the House as part of the annual defense funding bill,\" said Rep. Meng, Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. \"The trafficking of wildlife is a cruel and dangerous practice that has the potential to cause catastrophic economic damage and can lead to the spread of disease. This interagency solution will help combat the issue on a global scale, and I am proud to help champion this effort.\"\n\n\"From drug deals to human trafficking, the internet is a new front to fight some of the worst crimes we know,\" said Rep. Carter. \"By reauthorizing the END Wildlife Trafficking Act, we will be better positioned to stop these bad actors and combat wildlife trafficking not just in the US, but globally. I'm proud to cosponsor this bill and take a firm step towards ending this heinous crime for good.\"\n\n\"The Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking has done outstanding work, but the threats posed by wildlife poaching and trafficking are constantly evolving,\" said Senator Coons. \"Reauthorizing the END Wildlife Trafficking Act will empower the task force with improved tools to help combat this crime. I am proud to see this bipartisan bill move forward with inclusion in the NDAA.\"\n\n\"I am pleased that this critical legislation to help combat wildlife trafficking is included in the FY 2023 NDAA,\" said Senator Portman. \"Wildlife trafficking is not only a matter of conservation but also one of national security and international stability, as billions in profits from the illegal wildlife trade are used to finance other illicit and terrorist activity. My legislation with Senator Coons to reauthorize and strengthen the Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking will enhance the tools the U.S. government has to help combat wildlife trafficking around the globe.\"\n\nSince it was enacted in 2016, the END Wildlife Trafficking Act has aided in the arrest of members of wildlife trafficking networks and supported interagency efforts to tackle the issue globally through country-specific and regional initiatives. The END Wildlife Reauthorization and Improvements Act reauthorizes the duties of the Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking and related reports on major wildlife trafficking countries and expands the role of technology in anti-trafficking efforts.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/meng-legislation-to-help-korean-american-families-reunite-with-loved", "Meng Legislation to Help Korean American Families Reunite With Loved Ones in North Korea Passed by House", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Grace Meng", "M001188", "meng.house.gov", "meng", "https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, the House of Representatives passed legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, that seeks to help Korean American families reunite with loved ones in North Korea.\n\nThe Divided Families Reunification Act (H.R. 826) would require the U.S. Secretary of State\u2014or a designee of the Secretary\u2014to consult with South Korean officials on potential family reunion opportunities for American families and their relatives in North Korea. It would also require the State Department to consult bi-annually with representatives of Americans with family members in North Korea about its efforts to support family reunions, and to report to Congress on opportunities to utilize video conference technology to encourage virtual reunions.\n\nMeng's bill passed the House as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which is the annual defense spending legislation, and includes numerous foreign policy priorities. The measure now heads to the Senate.\n\nThousands of Korean Americans have been separated from their relatives in North Korea since the Korean War. Since 2000, South Korea and North Korea have held over 20 family reunions; however, there has not been an official channel for Korean Americans to be included.\n\nMeng noted that time is not on the side of many Korean Americans with relatives in North Korea as many are currently in their 70s, 80s, and 90s.\n\n\"My heart continues to ache for the thousands of Korean Americans who continue to be separated from their loved ones,\" said Congresswoman Meng. \"For decades, they have been desperately hoping to be reunified with family members, and continue to do so. Helping to end this long and painful ordeal so that they can see their loved ones again has been a top priority of mine. I thank all who have supported this critical legislation, and look forward to it passing into law soon.\"\n\n\"Although the hostilities of the Korean War ended nearly seventy years ago, many Korean American families in Hawaii and across our country continue to suffer its consequence and are unable to see or connect with family members still in North Korea,\" said Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI). \"Family separation is wrong, and these families deserve the opportunity to reconnect with their loved ones. I'm glad we were able to take this meaningful step in this year's NDAA.\"\n\n\"As a Korean American who grew up in South Korea in the aftermath of the Korean War, I understand and have great empathy for Korean Americans' continued separation from their families in North Korea,\" said Rep. Young Kim (R-CA). \"That is why I have been pushing for family reunifications since before my time in Congress. I am thrilled we can finally get this done as time is running out to make these reunifications a reality.\"\n\n\"One of the great tragedies of the prolonged Korean War are the numerous divided families,\" said Abraham Kim, Executive Director of the Council of Korean Americans. \"Koreans who have immigrated to the U.S. have no means to find and reconnect with their loved ones in North Korea. Although time is running out, Representative Meng's legislation opens a pathway and hope for these aging separated families. We applaud this ongoing effort to unify families.\"\n\n\"Millions of Korean families throughout the world, including those of Korean Americans, remain divided from their relatives in North Korea, with no contact or news, seventy years after the Korean War,\" said Ambassador (ret) Kathleen Stephens, President and CEO of the Korea Economic Institute of America. \"Congresswoman Grace Meng's bill spurs attention to the U.S. and South Korea working together to reunite families. I applaud her leadership.\"\n\n\"Passing Congresswoman Meng's Divided Families Reunification Act is more relevant and timely than ever especially since North Korea's borders are still closed due to COVID-19, and diplomatic negotiations remain at a standstill,\" said Jason Ahn, Board Chair of Divided Families USA. \"I thank Congresswoman Meng for her continued leadership on this crucial issue.\"\n\n\"We at KAGC are deeply grateful for the indelible leadership of Rep. Meng, Rep. Taylor, Rep. Bass, and Rep. Young Kim in their bipartisan efforts towards commonsense issues like family reunification,\" said Wonseok Song, Executive Director of the Korean American Grassroots Conference. \"Including this amendment will bring hope to thousands of families who have suffered long from overdue legislation, and who are now one day closer to embracing their aged loved ones. We look forward to the horizons of healing that this development brings forth for mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, grandparents and grandchildren. We celebrate this momentous milestone for the hope and peace it brings to the Korean Peninsula.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://morelle.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-joe-morelle-acts-protect-marriage-equality", "CONGRESSMAN JOE MORELLE ACTS TO PROTECT MARRIAGE EQUALITY", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Joseph D. Morelle", "M001206", "morelle.house.gov", "morelle", "https://morelle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) - Today, Congressman Joe Morelle voted to safeguard the future of marriage equality across America. The Respect for Marriage Act ensures the right of all couples to marry whomever they love, regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation, is enshrined in federal law and protected against any future attacks by the United States Supreme Court.\n\n\u201cAs a country, we have made extraordinary strides in the fight to support and empower our LGBTQ+ community\u2014and we won\u2019t be forced backwards by those who seek to dismantle our progress,\u201d said Congressman Joe Morelle. \u201cIt\u2019s shameful that the Supreme Court continues to attack the fundamental rights we hold dear. I\u2019m proud that today, we took decisive action to protect marriage equality and make clear that love is love. I look forward to seeing the President swiftly sign this bill into law.\u201d\n\nWhile marriage equality currently remains a constitutional right, the Supreme Court has demonstrated in their reprehensible decision to overturn Roe v Wade their willingness to reverse years of historical precedent. Justice Thomas's concurrence went so far as to specifically call out other fundamental rights, including the right to marriage equality, as targets for future reversals. By passing the Respect for Marriage Act, Congress has taken preventative steps to protect marriage equality, regardless of any future decisions by the Supreme Court.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://morelle.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-joe-morelle-acts-support-our-armed-forces-and-military-families", "CONGRESSMAN JOE MORELLE ACTS TO SUPPORT OUR ARMED FORCES AND MILITARY FAMILIES", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Joseph D. Morelle", "M001206", "morelle.house.gov", "morelle", "https://morelle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.) \u2014 Today, Congressman Joe Morelle voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 and deliver critical investments in our Armed Forces and their families. Congressman Morelle helped craft this legislation during his service on the House Armed Services Committee.\n\n\u201cThis year's NDAA fulfills our nation's responsibility to provide the tools our military needs to address national security threats while modernizing policies to better support the men and women of our Armed Forces,\u201d said Congressman Joe Morelle. \u201cI\u2019m proud to have helped create this important legislation to bolster our ability to compete with countries like China, ensure we are prepared to protect global security and peace, and make critical investments in our servicemembers and their families.\u201d\n\nThe bipartisan NDAA takes steps to support our military and ensure they have the tools and resources necessary to protect American families. Highlights of this year\u2019s legislation include:\n\nInvesting in Servicemembers:\n\nStrengthens military justice reforms for survivors of sexual assault by placing investigations outside of the immediate chain of command;\n\nFunds a 4.6 percent increase in military basic pay for servicemembers;\n\nAdds funds to allow the Department of Defense (DoD) to increase servicemember housing allowance by 2 percent;\n\nCombats food insecurity among military families by increasing the eligibility threshold for the Basic Needs Allowance (BNA) to 150 percent of the federal poverty line;\n\nBolsters funding to help address the childcare challenges faced by military families.\n\nStrengthening America\u2019s global competitiveness with China:\n\nIncreases basic research funding by 22.8 percent, strengthening the pipeline of future innovation for the DoD.\n\nSupporting our Allies:\n\nProvides $800 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative to give support and assistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces;\n\nAllocates more than $11 billion to support the Pacific Deterrence Initiative and over $6 billion to support the European Deterrence Initiative.\n\nCombatting the Climate Crisis:\n\nRequires the transition of non-tactical DoD vehicle fleets to electric or zero-emission vehicles by 2035;\n\nIncludes a package of bipartisan provisions to bolster ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes conservation and research;\n\nDecreases America\u2019s reliance on Russian energy sources by requiring bases to adopt new energy plans that increase energy resiliency and sustainability.\n\n\u201cEnsuring servicemembers and their families receive the protections and benefits they deserve while enhancing and strengthening our national defense is one of my top priorities in Congress\u2014and I\u2019m proud to have helped deliver on our promise with this year\u2019s NDAA,\u201d said Congressman Joe Morelle.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3766", "Tonko Votes to Enshrine Marriage Equality", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Paul Tonko", "T000469", "tonko.house.gov", "tonko", "https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014Congressman Paul D. Tonko voted with the House today to send the Respect for Marriage Act to President Biden\u2019s desk. This landmark legislation takes several key steps to defend marriage equality, including upholding couples\u2019 right to equal protection under federal law and requiring states to recognize valid out-of-state marriages.\n\n\u201cToday is a victory for human rights and for American couples and families everywhere,\u201d Congressman Tonko said. \u201cWith extremists increasingly threatening civil liberties, we took action to honor the dignity and equality of every American. The Respect for Marriage Act is a momentous step forward\u2014sending a clear signal that hate and bigotry have no place in America. There is more work ahead to uphold our fundamental freedoms, but I am proud to have voted to enshrine one critical freedom and ensure that the federal government never stands in the way of marrying the person you love.\u201d\n\nTonko voted earlier this year to pass this legislation, which has since been amended and advanced by the Senate last week.\n\nThe Respect for Marriage Act will take several steps to protect the inviolability of same-sex and interracial marriages:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/after-launching-push-in-upstate-ny-schumer-announces-his-legislation-to-limit-chinese-made-semiconductor-chips-in-us-govt-supply-chains-has-been-included-in-must-pass-defense-bill-schumer-says-new-provisions-will-strengthen-national-security-protect-new-yorkers-data-and-boost-the-us-chip-industry-including-in-upstate-ny", "AFTER LAUNCHING PUSH IN UPSTATE NY, SCHUMER ANNOUNCES HIS LEGISLATION TO LIMIT CHINESE-MADE SEMICONDUCTOR CHIPS IN U.S. GOV\u2019T SUPPLY CHAINS HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN MUST-PASS DEFENSE BILL; SCHUMER SAYS...", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "With Upstate NY Growing As a Global Hub For The Microchip Industry, Thanks To Schumer\u2019s Historic CHIPS And Science Law, Senator Delivers New Amendment In Defense Bill To Ensure More Semiconductors Used By The Feds Are Made In The USA\n\nSenator Says Chips Made By Companies With Ties To The Chinese Communist Party Pose Grave Threats To National And Economic Security; Schumer\u2019s New Legislation Will Help Protect From Cyberattacks And Reduce U.S. Dependence On China\n\nSchumer: It Is Time To Sever America\u2019s Reliance on Unsecure Chinese-Made Chips \u2013 And Have The Future Of Technology Stamped \u2018Made In Upstate NY\u2019\n\nAfter launching an all-out push started in Albany and Syracuse, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced his bipartisan amendment to prohibit the U.S. government\u2019s use of certain semiconductor chips made in China has been included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023. This builds on Schumer\u2019s historic CHIPS and Science Bill, which is already drawing major semiconductor investment to Upstate New York, to reduce U.S. reliance on Chinese-made chips from companies with known links to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and military. Schumer said this amendment will help limit the prevalence of these Chinese-made chips in federal government supply chains, strengthening national security, keeping New Yorkers\u2019 data safe, and boosting demand for more domestically made microchips, including from places like Upstate New York.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s simple: the federal government should not be in the business of buying certain Chinese-made chips that put our national and economic security at risk. Because of my CHIPS and Science bill, Upstate New York is seeing unprecedented investment and thousands of new jobs rebuilding American microchip manufacturing. Now, because of my amendment, U.S. taxpayer money will stop going to dangerous Chinese-government affiliated chip companies, backed by the Chinese military and ruling party, and instead support semiconductors made here in America, in places like Upstate New York,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cTo win the 21st century we need to secure our supply chains, and this amendment puts our national security, privacy, and defense first, by making sure the future of the federal government\u2019s chips is built in places like the Capital Region not China, in places like Syracuse not Shanghai.\u201d\n\nSchumer explained that semiconductor technology is essential not only in our daily lives, with microchips being used in everything from smartphones and household appliances to cars, but also is vital to our national security with our military technology and critical infrastructure fully reliant on these chips. Currently, however, Chinese companies with known links to the CCP and Chinese military are actively selling microchips to companies that do business with the federal government, including contractors that support the U.S. military and critical infrastructure, making the U.S. more vulnerable to cyberattacks and potentially compromising classified material and the information and data of millions of Americans and New Yorkers.\n\nSchumer\u2019s bipartisan amendment, introduced with Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), that was just included in the NDAA will directly address this problem by preventing the U.S. government from purchasing and using semiconductors from certain dangerous Chinese companies. Specifically, the legislation will limit the federal procurement of products or services that uses microchips produced from three major Chinese suppliers, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), and Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC), all with known links to Chinese state security and intelligence apparatuses.\n\nSchumer said his provision will help reduce the U.S. dependence on China and protect national security by ensuring that the U.S. government, its suppliers, and U.S. taxpayers do not directly or indirectly fund the Chinese military. This provision will also help ensure that chips produced by Chinese chipmakers cannot be weaponized in products sold to the U.S. Government, and will help position Upstate New York to supply more chips needed by our military and other critical infrastructure by replacing Chinese-made chips in the supply chains of companies that do business with the U.S. government.\n\nTo avoid disruptions of supplies to the federal government, the provision is phased in over five years and supports a new federal traceability initiative to work with the private sector to identify and replace Chinese-made chips in supply chains. These new prohibitions will help protect safe and trusted suppliers of semiconductor technology by limiting the proliferation of nefarious semiconductor products in federal procurement, helping build more secure and resilient domestic supply chains.\n\nSpecifically, Schumer said the provision would:\n\nProtect National Security:\n\nThe Schumer/Cornyn amendment requires the U.S. government and its suppliers to understand their supply chains. It strengthens the security of defense and critical infrastructure systems, and consumer electronics by prohibiting U.S. government procurement of products that contain semiconductor chips from Chinese chipmakers with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Chinese military. Systems require a variety of chips, new and old, that each perform a specific function. A single chip can cause an entire system to fail. The amendment ensures that the U.S. government, its suppliers, and U.S. taxpayers do not directly or indirectly fund the Chinese military and chips produced by Chinese chipmakers cannot be weaponized in products sold to the U.S. Government.\n\nThere is no justifiable reason for allowing Chinese military company chips in federal supply chains, including for the Department of Defense and critical infrastructure. SMIC is on the Commerce Department\u2019s Entity List and the Treasury Department\u2019s Chinese Military Industrial Complex Companies List, which together impose export restrictions and bans on U.S. capital. SMIC has also been named a \u201cChinese military contractor\u201d by the Pentagon. YMTC was recently made subject to U.S. export controls by the Commerce Department, and YMTC and CXMT have been cited by bipartisan congressional leaders as posing similar threats.\n\nReduce U.S. Dependence on China:\n\nRelying on Chinese chips only strengthens China\u2019s semiconductor industry while undermining U.S. national security and economic competitiveness. Without this amendment, companies would continue to purchase chips manufactured and sold below market prices by Chinese military companies. With chips underpinning nearly all technologies, this reliance jeopardizes the security of our supply chains. This amendment will strategically and responsibly help prevent future chip shortages.\n\nPromote Economic Security:\n\nThe amendment\u2019s five-year implementation period provides more than ample time for companies to understand and strengthen their supply chains. Within this five-year period, companies that have previously relied on chips manufactured by SMIC, YMTC, and CXMT could source their chips from chipmakers outside of China, including more American-made chips.\n\nMitigate Future Chip Shortages:\n\nSemiconductor manufacturers add capacity based on demand, which is why semiconductor manufacturers in the U.S. are able and willing to produce these chips at market prices. This amendment sends a signal to the private sector that if they want to do business with the U.S. government, they need to replace Chinese-made chips in their supply chains, opening up a new demand for American-made chips. That new demand, combined with the major infusion of federal investment from the CHIPS and Science Act to build the domestic semiconductor industry, will boost American manufacturing and jobs.\n\nSchumer has been the leading champion of bringing semiconductor manufacturing back to America and has a long history of fighting to secure microchip investment for Upstate New York. Going back to 2019,Schumer proposed a major tech investment \u201cmoon shot\u201d in cutting-edge technologies like semiconductors to out-compete China. Schumer then spent the next three years working to pass into law this vision \u2013 ultimately manifesting itself into the CHIPS and Science Act, which makes a generational investment in innovation and manufacturing, including providing over $52 billion in new federal incentives for microchip manufacturing and research and development in the U.S., along with the creation of a new federal investment tax credit to support the expansion of domestic microchip production.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://espaillat.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-adriano-espaillat-introduces-responsibility-and-integrity", "Representative Adriano Espaillat Introduces the Responsibility and Integrity in Security Clearance (RISC) Act", "2022-12-07", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Adriano Espaillat", "E000297", "espaillat.house.gov", "espaillat", "https://espaillat.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) introduced the Responsibility and Integrity in Security Clearance (RISC) Act to further measures to counter Presidential abuse of power by preventing family members and financial associates of the President of the United States from receiving a security clearance without going through appropriate protocols or channels.\n\n\u201cCongress has a responsibility to conduct oversight over the executive branch, and the previous administration proved that we can never take for granted this responsibility or the implications it may have when overlooked,\u201d said Rep. Espaillat. \u201cWe have witnessed how fragile democracy is around the world, including here at home during the January 6th insurrection. During the previous administration, several of the former President\u2019s family members and associates were given unprecedented access to our nation\u2019s secrets by bypassing appropriate security clearance channels and protocols. My bill advances our national security by closing this loophole and avoiding the associated risks that come with unqualified, unvetted, and unscrupulous persons gaining such access simply due to their proximity or relation with the President.\u201d\n\nThe RISC Act prevents abuse of power in providing security clearances to family members and other financial associates of the President of the United States. The bill includes the following:\n\n\u00b7 The White House Chief of Staff must notify Congress if the President grants security access to a family member or financial associate against or before the recommendation of agencies like the FBI.\n\n\u00b7 Notification must be given in writing by Chief of Staff within five days of the individual or group receiving security clearance.\n\n\u00b7 Revokes security clearances given to family members or financial associates of the President against or before the recommendation of federal agencies like the FBI.\n\nRead Espaillat\u2019s RISC Act in its entirety here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3764", "Tonko Floating Solar & Water Priorities Advance in Must-Pass Legislation", "2022-12-07", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Paul Tonko", "T000469", "tonko.house.gov", "tonko", "https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014Congressman Paul D. Tonko cheered the inclusion of several provisions he championed to protect and enhance water resources throughout the Capital Region and across the country.\n\n\u201cBy harnessing the power of our waterways, we can strengthen our local communities, address drought and flood risks, support environmental justice, bolster the economy, and so much more,\u201d Congressman Tonko said. \u201cI\u2019m lucky to represent a region that is home to several historic waterways, and I have long been working to protect them. After years of pushing, I am proud that the provisions I authored will be taken up to strongly invest and support these cherished waters and the communities surrounding them.\u201d\n\nThe Tonko-championed provisions include:\n\n$10 million for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to assess the potential for installing floating solar projects on Corps\u2019 assets. This provision was also recently introduced in Congress as part of Tonko\u2019s POWER our Reservoirs Act.\n\nA designation of the New York-New Jersey Watershed as a \u201cpriority river basin and watershed\u201d, which will enable greater ability for the Army Corps to assess ecosystem protection and restoration, flood risk, and other watershed needs for the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers.\n\nAn authorization to assess flood risk management, navigation, and environmental restoration in the Mohawk River Basin.\n\nTonko has long led on legislation that would support and protect key waterways in New York and across the nation. Last week, he introduced the POWER our Reservoirs Act (Protect our Waters and Expand Renewables on our Reservoirs Act) to advance clean energy production and drought protection at our nation\u2019s federal water reservoirs, by calling on federal agencies to study opportunities to deploy floating solar panels on their reservoirs and launch innovative pilot projects.\n\nThese Tonko-led provisions were included in the Water Resources Development Act of 2022, a title of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, which is expected to be voted upon in the House later this week.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/meng-issues-joint-statement-with-co-chairs-of-the-house-bipartisan", "Meng And Fellow Co-Chairs Of House Antisemitism Task Force Condem Recent Antisemitic Rhetoric By Public Figures", "2022-12-06", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Grace Meng", "M001188", "meng.house.gov", "meng", "https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Reps. Grace Meng (D-NY), Kathy Manning (D-NC), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Kay Granger (R-TX), and Randy Weber (R-TX), co-Chairs of the House Bipartisan Taskforce for Combatting Antisemitism, released the following statement condemning recent antisemitic rhetoric by public figures.\n\n\"We unequivocally condemn despicable antisemitic rhetoric praising Hitler and spreading Holocaust denial. The dangerous elevation of hate and antisemitism by public figures emboldens extremists and threatens to incite violence against Jewish people. As co-chairs of the House Bipartisan Taskforce for Combatting Antisemitism, we reject this hatred and condemn antisemitism in all of its forms.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-ocasio-cortez-recognizes-congressional-app-challenge-winner-0", "Rep. Ocasio-Cortez Recognizes Congressional App Challenge Winner", "2022-12-06", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez", "O000172", "ocasio-cortez.house.gov", "ocasio-cortez", "https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "The Bronx, NY - Today, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez unveiled the winner of the Congressional App Challenge from New York\u2019s 14th Congressional District: CalendAir by Melissa Chowdhury. CalendAir is a mobile app that allows teachers and students to communicate directly with each other regarding assignments, upcoming deadlines, overall feedback, and more.\n\nChowdhury noticed that her school has \u201ca vast number of resources addressing everything content-wise, but there is a great lack of resources addressing the roots of a student's education, including elements such as organization, procrastination, and mental health.\u201d She hopes to work with her team to \u201cstart working with school & district leaders to implement CalendAir into middle & high schools to help maximize efficiency and productivity in the classroom while tackling these root issues that are typically overlooked, creating a stronger, more effective, education for students across the nation and beyond.\" A video demonstration of the app is available here.\n\n\"We were impressed with the ingenuity, timeliness and utility of Melissa\u2019s application. She thoughtfully created a method for teachers to easily communicate with students, facilitating time management and organizational skills,\" said Naureen Akhter, District Director. \u201cWe congratulate her and commend our other applicants for participating in the Congressional App Challenge, and look forward to following the work of this next generation of young leaders.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3757", "Tonko Announces $70K Local Award to Improve Transportation for Seniors and People with Disabilities", "2022-12-06", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Paul Tonko", "T000469", "tonko.house.gov", "tonko", "https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "ALBANY, NY \u2013 Congressman Paul D. Tonko announced today that Colonie Senior Service Centers (CSSC) has been awarded a $70,000 grant through the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center\u2019s (NADTC) cooperative agreement with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). These funds will allow CSSC to expand critical transportation services for a diverse population of older adults and individuals with disabilities in the City of Watervliet and the Village of Menands.\n\n\u201cFor too long, older Americans and Americans with disabilities have often lacked access to the safe, affordable transportation options they need to access employment, healthcare, and other needed community services,\u201d Congressman Tonko said. \u201cThis award represents an important step toward the expansion of these critical services here in our Capital Region. With this infusion of federal funding, Colonie Senior Service Centers will be able to expand its own transportation services to diverse communities where they have identified the greatest need, specifically in the City of Watervliet and the Village of Menands. I\u2019m proud to have helped secure this crucial funding, and I\u2019ll continue my work to support seniors and individuals with disabilities here in our Capital Region and beyond.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs the largest nonprofit provider of senior programs and services in New York\u2019s Capital Region, Colonie Senior Service Centers, Inc. is thrilled to have been chosen as one of seven recipients from around the country to receive NADTC funding,\u201d said Diane Conroy LaCivita, Executive Director of Colonie Senior Service Centers. \u201cThe funding is subsidizing the expansion of our transportation services to both the City of Watervliet and the Village of Menands. We recognize that having safe, reliable, door-to-door transportation for our seniors is key to getting them out of their homes and keeping them active and engaged in the community. Additionally, enabling seniors to once again be mobile contributes to our region\u2019s economic vitality.\u201d\n\nIn April, CSSC was one of 9 grantees selected to receive a competitive planning grant from NADTC to engage with diverse older adults, people with disabilities, and community partners to identify current transportation needs and to develop a written plan of action to address those needs. After finalizing the planning process in September, CSSC was selected as one of 7 grantees to move on to the implementation phase. NADTC\u2019s Equity and Accessibility Mobility Implementation grants help engage diverse local populations and target areas with high need in order to strengthen connections between transportation and human services programs, and create practical, accessible solutions other communities can adopt.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3762", "Tonko, Bice Introduce Bill to Strengthen Clean Hydrogen Development", "2022-12-06", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Paul Tonko", "T000469", "tonko.house.gov", "tonko", "https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014Representatives Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) and Stephanie Bice (R-OK) today introduced the Department of Energy Clean Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 2022, bipartisan legislation that would empower the Department of Energy (DOE) to strengthen its efforts to support R&D of clean hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.\n\n\u201cThroughout my time in Congress, I\u2019ve worked to advance forward-thinking legislation that will support innovation and development of U.S. industries while tackling the threat of climate change,\u201d Congressman Tonko said. \u201cClean hydrogen offers us an opportunity to secure a clean energy future. But these opportunities will not be realized without strong federal investment. I\u2019m proud to join Congresswoman Bice to introduce this bill that invests in clean hydrogen research and development. I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting this bill and driving American innovation.\u201d\n\n\u201cOklahoma is striving to become a leader in hydrogen production, transportation, and storage,\u201d Rep. Bice said. \u201cThis legislation instructs the Secretary of Energy to implement a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of hydrogen for its implementation as an energy source. I am grateful for the leadership of Congressman Tonko on this important issue.\u201d\n\nThe Clean Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Research, Development, and Demonstration Act:\n\nAuthorizes a series of programs and activities at DOE to conduct research, development, and demonstration programs relevant to hydrogen and fuel cell technologies\n\nCurrently, the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) leads hydrogen and fuel cell R&D activities within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and coordinates related activities with DOE\u2019s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM), Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), and the Office of Science. This bill codifies many of the existing activities led and coordinated by the HFTO that were not included in the Energy Act of 2020 or the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act\n\nAuthorizes emerging activities, including:\n\nImproving stationary fuel cells to achieve greater than 80,000 hours of durability;\n\nThe development of advanced computer modeling to optimize energy system operation for clean hydrogen production in different electricity markets; and\n\nR&D to improve the use of hydrogen and hydrogen blends in the production of iron, steel, cement, fertilizer, chemicals, and energy-dense fuels.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://velazquez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/vel-zquez-sends-letter-leadership-avoid-looming-medicaid-cliff-puerto", "Vel\u00e1zquez Sends Letter to Leadership to Avoid Looming Medicaid Cliff in Puerto Rico", "2022-12-06", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez", "V000081", "velazquez.house.gov", "velazquez", "https://velazquez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington D.C.\u2014 Today, Rep. Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez (D-NY) led four Members of Congress in sending a letter that urges Leadership to avoid a looming Medicaid cliff in Puerto Rico by temporarily increasing Puerto Rico's FMAP to 100 percent and upholding the CMS' determination to extend the Medicaid annual funding cap for Puerto Rico at FY 2020 levels, or $2.9 billion, in any end of the year government funding package.\n\nAlthough Puerto Rico deserves additional legislative action to receive an equal, permanent, and stable funding stream to operate its Medicaid program, Congress should at least adopt temporary actions to prevent yet another disastrous Medicaid cliff in the island.\n\nIf Congress fails to act now, Puerto Rico will lose more than $2 billion in federal funding to serve half of its population over the next fiscal year. \"This scenario would trigger immediate and detrimental cuts to the program's eligibility, benefits, and provider payments. The cliff would also deal a further blow to Puerto Rico's balance sheet, as the territorial government would be forced to pull funding away from other critical investments, such as the newly made pension trust for public sector workers, long-term capital investments, and emergency reserves,\" wrote Congresswoman Vel\u00e1zquez.\n\nThe letter also highlights that \"For a territory that is still grappling with economic decline, bankruptcy, a pandemic, and the aftermaths of multiple natural disasters, additional financial burdens could prove to be catastrophic.\"\n\nIn addition to Vel\u00e1zquez, this letter was signed by Representatives Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (NY-14), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), and Darren Soto (FL-09).\n\nA PDF of the letter is online here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-personal-meeting-with-ceo-schumer-urges-cadenza-innovation-to-further-build-up-new-clean-energy-hub-at-ipark87/techcity-and-bring-hundreds-of-jobs-to-ulster-schumer-highlights-to-top-brass-at-cadenza-his-historic-federal-incentives_ipark87s-ideal-location-as-the-nations-leading-clean-energy-site", "IN PERSONAL MEETING WITH CEO, SCHUMER URGES CADENZA INNOVATION TO FURTHER BUILD UP NEW CLEAN ENERGY HUB AT IPARK87/TECHCITY & BRING HUNDREDS OF JOBS TO ULSTER; SCHUMER HIGHLIGHTS TO TOP BRASS AT...", "2022-12-06", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Cadenza Is Considering Ulster For Its New \u2018SuperCell\u2019 Manufacturing Facility; Schumer Says Former IBM & TechCity Site, Now Called iPark87, That He Fought Hard To Get Cleaned Up, Is Primed To Make Cadenza An Anchor Tenant With Substantial Investment At New Site\n\nSchumer Delivered Clean-Energy Investments From The Inflation Reduction Act And Infrastructure & Jobs Bill That Have Already Sparked Companies like Zinc8 To Consider Coming To Ulster \u2013 Now Schumer Doubles Down To Land Another Clean Battery Manufacturer And Hundreds More Jobs To Ulster County\n\nSchumer To Cadenza: Picking Ulster County Will Be A Win-Win-Win by Making The Hudson Valley A Clean Energy Hub, Creating Hundreds Of New Good-Paying Jobs, And Supercharging The Fight Against Climate Change\n\nAfter his successful push sparking Zinc8 to bring 500 new clean energy jobs to Ulster County, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced that he personally met with Dr. Christina Lampe-Onnerud, CEO of Cadenza Innovation, a cutting-edge lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery company, urging Cadenza to select iPark87 for its proposed multi-hundred million dollar investment that would bring hundreds of new clean energy jobs to the Hudson Valley.\n\nIn the meeting, Schumer made clear that Ulster\u2019s former TechCity campus, now known as iPark87, has all the right assets to become the home of Cadenza\u2019s next major manufacturing facility, and said that the historic federal incentives he passed in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to expand U.S.-based battery technologies can help to supercharge Cadenza\u2019s future in New York.\n\n\u201cCadenza\u2019s interest in bringing hundreds of new jobs to Ulster County\u2019s former TechCity site, now called iPark87, shows that the Hudson Valley is on the map and poised to become a hub for clean energy innovation. With state-of-the-art battery companies like Zinc8 already working to set up shop in the Hudson Valley, securing Cadenza\u2019s spot at iPark87 would be a major win as we work to revitalize Ulster County\u2019s former economic engine, making it a future home to thousands of good-paying clean energy jobs. That\u2019s why I\u2019m doubling down to transform this site to once again become the beating heart of Ulster County\u2019s economy, all while powering a cleaner, brighter future, fighting climate change, and creating hundreds of good-paying jobs,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cI made it clear to Cadenza\u2019s CEO, Dr. Christina Lampe-Onnerud, that I stand ready to help their potential expansion in the Hudson Valley in any way, including fighting to secure the historic federal battery research and development incentives I passed in the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The Hudson Valley and New York can be the lightning rod for the future of battery investment in the U.S., and I will not stop fighting to make sure our country\u2019s battery future is powered by New York workers.\u201d\n\nSchumer explained that, as a growth-stage company, Cadenza Innovation\u2019s patented technology architecture \u2013 the \u2018superCell' \u2013 is enabling a new generation of safe, higher performing, lower-cost Li-ion batteries and energy storage solutions. Eliminating risk of fires and explosions, the U.S. Department of Defense-tested and UL Registered superCell technology platform fuels urban deployments due to its safe, flexible and space-efficient design, bolsters utility grid resilience and powers a range of uses in the electric vehicle (EV) and commercial and industrial (C&I) sectors.\n\nCadenza is actively considering New York as the next location to scale its production with a multi-hundred-million dollar investment that would supercharge efforts to revitalize Ulster County\u2019s former economic hub while putting the Hudson Valley and the broader Upstate New York region on the map as a global leader in clean-energy technology. Schumer said that batteries and energy storage are integral to everyday life, helping to power everything from mobile phones to electric vehicles, but unfortunately, much of the manufacturing of this critical technology has been offshored, leaving the country vulnerable to supply chain disruptions that can raise costs for working families and jeopardize U.S. jobs and national security. Schumer explained that expanding domestic manufacturing of battery technology is integral to America\u2019s future.\n\n\u201cTwo years ago, Senator Schumer saw the potential of the vacant, polluted former Tech City campus and promised to help. He brought everyone together and not only took action to clean up the site, but he also has worked non-stop to attract state-of-the-art clean energy companies to iPark87 to revitalize the site and create thousands of jobs,\" said Mike Oates President and CEO of the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation. \"Senator Schumer has been an invaluable resource to us and we wouldn't be in this position without him. We are thrilled about the potential of Cadenza bringing over hundreds of new jobs to the region as iPark87 shapes up to be a clean energy hub.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are excited to see the redevelopment efforts at iPark87 take positive shape. Senator Schumer has been a true champion for the site and been helpful working with us to attract high quality jobs to the region. We believe iPark87 can be a hub for cutting edge green technology and unmatched innovation. Big thank you to Senator Schumer for passing critical legislation that encourages investment in clean technology and for rolling out the red carpet to these important companies,\u201d said Joe Cotter, Owner, National Resources.\n\nSchumer has a long history of fighting to revitalize the former TechCity campus. In July of 2021, Schumer personally visited the asbestos-contaminated TechCity site, calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to fully clean up and restore Ulster County\u2019s former economic engine, once the 30-year home of IBM. After Schumer\u2019s advocacy, the firm reached an agreement with EPA to remove the asbestos piles, which was completed in October this year, green lighting the site to attract new businesses. Following his direct appeal, Zinc8, a leader in cutting-edge battery and energy storage technology, officially signed a letter of intent to make Ulster County their first major manufacturing hub as the company looks towards commercialization, which will bring up to 500 good-paying clean energy jobs to Upstate New York, with the company directly citing the Inflation Reduction Act and Schumer\u2019s support and advocacy as deciding factors in the company\u2019s decision to invest in New York.\n\nSince becoming majority leader, Schumer has secured more than $135 billion in federal incentives to expand domestic manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles and other energy storage applications. Schumer\u2019s efforts to make New York a leader in the future of battery research and manufacturing is already seeing results across the state. In September 2022 after years of advocacy, Schumer secured Binghamton University\u2019s spot as a final awardee in the American Rescue Plan\u2019s Build Back Better Region Challenge for a $63.7 million federal investment, one of the largest grants, to help make the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes a national hub for battery research and manufacturing. Earlier this year, Schumer visited Li-Cycle in Rochester, a cutting-edge battery recycler, which is opening a new North American Hub that is slated to bring over 200 good-paying jobs and that will have even further growth opportunities from the federal investment included in the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that Schumer passed.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gillibrand-announce-buffalos-ralph-c-wilson-jr-centennial-park-will-receive-45-million-through-the-national-coastal-resilience-fund-from-the-bipartisan-infrastructure-law-to-revitalize-the-shoreline-and-give-western-ny-families-the-beautiful-waterfront-park-they-deserve", "SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE BUFFALO\u2019S RALPH C. WILSON JR. CENTENNIAL PARK WILL RECEIVE $4.5 MILLION THROUGH THE NATIONAL COASTAL RESILIENCE FUND FROM THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW TO REVITALIZE...", "2022-12-06", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $4.5 million from the National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF) to restore the shoreline of Buffalo\u2019s Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park. Schumer and Gillibrand said this funding through the NCRF was made possible thanks to the historic increases they secured in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Law. The senators said this project will help ensure the long term stability of the park by improving flood mitigation efforts, restoring coastal habitats, and giving the public greater access to the Lake Erie waterfront.\n\n\u201cRalph Wilson was a dear friend of mine, and this will help Buffalo have the beautiful waterfront park that our families deserve and is fitting to his legacy and unwavering commitment to Buffalo. I am proud to deliver $4.5 million in federal funding to restore the Buffalo\u2019s shoreline along Lake Erie for the park and give Western New York the waterfront view it has long deserved,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cWhen I led the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to passage, it is long overdue investments in restoring the Great Lakes and uplifting families like these that I had in mind. I am proud to help give Buffalo the access to its pristine waterfront it has long deserved and help ensure the long term stability of the park by improving its shoreline. Ralph is looking down smiling today, and I will be thinking of him when I look out at the water.\n\n\u201cRevitalizing the Ralph C. Wilson Park shoreline will provide families in the City of Buffalo with a new space for recreation and help restore our coastal habitats,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cI am proud that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is helping projects like this one come to fruition.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the grant will help restore hardened shoreline to softened shoreline and create of coastal habitat along Buffalo's Lake Erie shoreline. The project will also improve habitat and ecosystem functions to reduce impacts of flooding and erosion and will protect critical park and residential infrastructure. This will not only help prevent flooding, but help finally expand and give the public access to the waterfront of the park that it has long desired.\n\nThe funding comes from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). This year\u2019s awards come in large part thanks to historic increases in funding Schumer and Gillibrand were able to secure as a part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Law that enabled the NCRF to increase the number of awards and the size of awards granted for natural infrastructure projects benefiting local communities.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/meng-issues-statement-on-senate-s-failure-to-pass-the-house-resolution", "Meng Issues Statement On Senate\u2019s Failure To Pass The House Resolution To Provide Rail Workers With Paid Sick Leave", "2022-12-02", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Grace Meng", "M001188", "meng.house.gov", "meng", "https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) today issued the following statement condemning the Senate's failure to pass a resolution, H. Con. Res. 119, to provide rail workers with seven paid sick days. The resolution passed the House with a 221-207 bipartisan vote on Wednesday, November 30.\n\n\"I am extremely disappointed by the Senate's failure to adopt the House-passed resolution that put essential rail workers ahead of corporate profits. Rail workers are responsible for transporting essential goods like fuel, water, and food across our nation. They, like all workers, deserve paid sick leave and it is appalling that some lawmakers disagree.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3756", "Tonko Announces $274K Local Award for Alzheimer\u2019s Detection Project", "2022-12-02", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Paul Tonko", "T000469", "tonko.house.gov", "tonko", "https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "ALBANY, NY\u2014Congressman Paul D. Tonko announced today that Early Alzheimer\u2019s Diagnostics LLC of Glenmont has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant totaling $274,713 for a project to develop saliva screening tests that can detect Alzheimer\u2019s disease before the onset of devastating symptoms such as memory loss.\n\n\u201cFar too many Americans have experienced the devastating impact of Alzheimer\u2019s,\u201d Congressman Tonko said. \u201cEarly diagnosis can have a major impact on ensuring access to treatments and vastly improving quality of life for patients and their families. I have long been at the forefront of efforts to increase access to early diagnostics for Alzheimer\u2019s disease, and I\u2019m proud to see this innovative research taking place here in the Capital Region. I\u2019m thankful to Early Alzheimer's Diagnostics for their innovative project, and I will continue working to deliver a compassionate federal response that supports all those living with Alzheimer\u2019s and their loved ones.\u201d\n\nCongressman Tonko has long been a strong supporter of Alzheimer\u2019s research in our Capital Region, announcing a $306,974 award for Early Alzheimer\u2019s Diagnostics earlier this year to support research on new screenings based on blood spectroscopy. In this session of Congress, Tonko has introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at prioritizing research on Alzheimer\u2019s and supporting scientists in the development of treatments and potential cures, and has led bipartisan calls to increase access to existing diagnostic tests.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/after-fighting-to-secure-millions-for-cortland-to-build-new-state-of-the-art-mental-health-facility-schumer-launches-push-to-protect-and-deliver-funding-asap-in-upcoming-end-of-year-spending-bill_ensuring-thousands-of-rural-cny-and-cortland-residents-get-the-mental-healthcare-they-need-", "AFTER FIGHTING TO SECURE MILLIONS FOR CORTLAND TO BUILD NEW STATE OF THE ART MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY, SCHUMER LAUNCHES PUSH TO PROTECT AND DELIVER FUNDING ASAP IN UPCOMING END OF YEAR SPENDING BILL \u2013...", "2022-12-02", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Cortland County\u2019s Mental Health Department Services Thousands Of Rural Residents Every Year In Vital Mental Health, Therapy, And Behavioral Health Care- But It\u2019s Current Aging Facility Lacks Basic Necessities Like Broadband, Disability Accessibility, And Cannot Meet The Modern Needs Of Its Patients\n\nSchumer Already Helped Secure Millions In Fed $$ To Improve Mental Health Services In Cortland \u2013 But Millions In Key Funding Remains In Limbo For Cortland As Congress Debates The End Of Year Spending Bill; Senator Will Detail His Push To Protect These Critical $$ So Cortland County Can Finally Build The Mental Health Facility Rural CNY Needs\n\nSchumer: Feds Need To Deliver Modern Mental Health Facility Cortland And Rural CNY Communities Deserve\n\nStanding in downtown Cortland, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today, after fighting to secure millions for Cortland County to transform a vacant downtown building into a new state of the art mental health facility, launched a major push to protect this critical funding and boost mental healthcare services for rural residents in Central New York.\n\nSchumer said that nearly $5 million in federal funding is slated to jump start this massive expansion, which will nearly double the size of Cortland County\u2019s Mental Health Department, and significantly improve their services. The senator explained he has already helped deliver the first $2 million thanks to the American Rescue Plan, but the remaining $2,995,000 is stuck in limbo and needs to be passed in the end-of-year omnibus spending bill for Fiscal Year 2023. Schumer said he is launching an all-out push to deliver this funding ASAP to deliver the desperately needed modern mental health facility with expanded services that Cortland County and rural Central NY residents deserve.\n\n\u201cCortland County needs and deserves a modern mental health care facility. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, rural communities were already struggling to meet mental health needs and those needs have only increased,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cThat is why I fought for historic funding increases to mental health programs in the COVID relief legislation and made sure the local aid places like Cortland County received was flexible so that they could invest in the long term health of their communities. Now, Congress needs to pass the final piece of the puzzle and deliver the last $3 million so that Cortland County can transform this vacant building into the state of the art mental health center Central New York\u2019s rural residents deserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cDeeply honored to be considered for this federal support for Cortland County Mental Health Department capital improvements at our future building location. These funds would offer essential financial assistance and the chance to direct additional investments into the county\u2019s behavioral health system of care. Our behavioral health community will benefit so much from this investment. I\u2019m so thankful to the Senator for caring about Cortland,\u201d said Sharon MacDougall, Director of Community Services, Cortland County Mental Health Department\n\nSpecifically, the federal funding will allow Cortland to transform a currently vacant building downtown to become a state of the art one-stop shop for mental healthcare. Currently, Cortland County\u2019s Mental Health Department is housed in a severely outdated building, which lacks both modern necessities like sufficient broadband access for telehealth services, critical disability accommodations, and the physical space to provide residents the amount of programs they need. Cortland County already has over a thousand patients enrolled in its mental health care programs and that number continues to rise- with an estimated 8% increase next year alone. For example, Cortland County\u2019s Clinic program alone experienced a record 30-year high for total sessions in August 2022 at nearly 1,734 total session to 850 patients in a single month.\n\nOnce completed, the new facility will nearly double the space for the county\u2019s treatment programs, and make major upgrades like an ADA compliant elevator and high-speed internet access that will significantly boost the quality of their telehealth treatment options. The funding will allow Cortland County\u2019s Mental Health Department to have the space they need to continue offering three NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) licensed outpatient treatment programs: Clinic, Adult Day Treatment, and Children\u2019s Mental Health Rehabilitation Services. The funding will also help Cortland County's Mental Health Department expand their Children\u2019s Mental Health Rehabilitation Services.\n\nSchumer explained that as author of the American Rescue Plan to jumpstart our nation\u2019s recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, he made sure the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds was flexible to address the long-term health and economic needs of communities. Thanks to Senator Schumer\u2019s efforts, Cortland County received over $9 million, of which $2 million in federal funding is already allocated to help improve their mental health services.\n\nSchumer also fought for nearly $3 million in congressionally directed spending for Fiscal Year 2023; however, Schumer explained that this funding is tied to the must-pass end-of-year omnibus spending bill that Congress is still negotiating. Schumer said he is actively working with his fellow congressional leaders and appropriators to try to pass a full government spending bill this December, and that he will fight to make sure projects like Cortland County\u2019s are included in the final legislation to give Central New York rural residents the healthcare facility they have long needed.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-with-respiratory-viruses-skyrocketing-in-western-new-york-children-hundreds-of-new-rsv-cases-in-wyoming-county-over-1000-cases-at-buffalos-oshei-childrens-hospital-and-overburdened-hospitals-struggling-to-keep-up-schumer-will-call-on-feds-to-launch-nationwide-action-plan-to-protect-ny-children-keep-our-hospitals-prepared-and-combat-rsv-before-its-too-late-", "SCHUMER: WITH RESPIRATORY VIRUSES SKYROCKETING IN WESTERN NEW YORK CHILDREN, HUNDREDS OF NEW RSV CASES IN WYOMING COUNTY, OVER 1,000 CASES AT BUFFALO\u2019S OSHEI CHILDREN\u2019S HOSPITAL, AND OVERBURDENED...", "2022-12-02", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV), Has Been Reaching Unprecedented Levels In Hospitals Nationwide At Nearly 7x The Weekly Rate Pre-Covid According To The CDC, Buffalo\u2019s Oishei Children\u2019s Hospital Has Seen Over Double the RSV Already Compared To Last Year\u2019s Entire Season\n\nRSV Can Be Serious For Young Children And The Elderly \u2013 A Record-breaking 1,000 RSV Cases While Serious Flu Cases Also Doubled At Oshei Children\u2019s Hospital\n\nSenator Says Feds Need A Comprehensive Plan To Address RSV and Be Ready to Send in Federal Support the Moment It\u2019s Needed\n\nSchumer: RSV Is On The Rise, And Feds Need To Step Up To Help Upstate Hospital\n\nStanding at Wyoming County Community Hospital (WCCH) as Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV) cases surge in children across Western New York, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today launched a major new push to increase federal support for Upstate hospitals strained by the dramatic increase in RSV cases. Flanked by pediatricians on the frontlines, Schumer explained that this is the busiest RSV season that hospitals like WCCH and Kaleida\u2019s Oishei Children\u2019s Hospital which serves Wyoming County has ever seen, with more than double the number of admissions this year compared to the entirety of last season. Wyoming County Community Health System reported 54 new cases of RSV alone in just the first two weeks of November with 115 pediatric RSV cases so far this year while pediatric COVID cases are up 75% this year and pediatric influenza cases have gone from just 3 last year to 24 so far this year. Oishei has seen over 1000 pediatric RSV admissions this fall - more than double the number of admissions that they typically see over the entire 6-month season from this time last year. Schumer said the spiking levels of RSV with growing flu rates warrants immediately federal action, and called for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to be ready to act at a moment\u2019s notice to provide whatever support upstate hospitals need. Schumer reported that the federal government has unique authority to help, with the power to support temporary structures, surge staffing if there are not enough pediatricians available, moving patients across states lines, credentialing out of state providers, enhancing the use of telehealth, coordinating medical supply chains and more.\n\n\u201cWestern New York hospitals are facing an unprecedented surge in RSV cases among children, and public health experts all say it is only going to get worse as we enter the cold winter months. Normally, RSV cases start to grow in October and November before peaking in December and January. It is outright scary given that hospitals are already struggling to keep up, and it\u2019s possible the worst is yet to come. As a grandfather to two young children, there is nothing more terrifying than the thought of them getting sick, and all across the Western New York parents are facing hospitals who are pushed to the brink, with increased wait times, full beds, all while their child is struggling to breathe because of RSV,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cHospitals are doing their best on the frontlines, but the feds need to step up with a comprehensive plan to respond to this major spike and be ready for it to get worse. The feds have a unique ability to get more doctors and supplies where it\u2019s needed, and they need to be prepared to do so. Nobody really knows what will come next, and if an Upstate hospital says they need something, the feds need to be able to say \u2018help is on the way right now.\u2019 Hospitals cannot afford to wait.\u201d\n\nDavid Kobis, CEO of Wyoming County Community Health System said, \u201cLike hospitals across our region facing the current surge of multiple respiratory viruses amid capacity constraints, Wyoming County Community Health System is seeing more patients with RSV, influenza and Covid-19 compared to last year. We continue to focus our efforts on delivering the highest quality care right here when our patients need us while also collaborating closely with other hospitals and family physicians across the region. We appreciate Senator Schumer\u2019s support for our work and recognition of the need to leverage additional resources to address these challenges.\u201d\n\nDr. Michael Mineo, Chief Medical Officer Kaleida Health said, \u201cWe are experiencing a historic respiratory infection season, especially at Oishei Children\u2019s Hospital. Over 1000 children have been admitted with RSV already compared to an average of 300 all winter the past few years. There has been a sliver of hope recently with weekly RSV admissions decreasing from 150/week to 90 a week. Any reprieve, however, is short lived because we have seen an increase in 50 admissions a week of influenza. The results are problematic as Children\u2019s and its intensive care unit is over 100% capacity. As a community, we all really need to do our part to get vaccinated, staying home and masking when not feeling well.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, Schumer said that he is calling for HHS to be ready and, if requested by hospitals, use its unique authority to help. Tools at HHS\u2019 disposal includes the power to support temporary structures like screening tents, surge staffing if there are not enough pediatricians available, moving patients across states lines, credentialing out of state providers, enhancing the use of telehealth, coordinating medical supply chains and more.\n\nRSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Schumer said that while most adults recover in a week or two, RSV can be very serious, especially for young children and older adults. RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia (infection of the lungs) in children younger than 1 year of age in the United States.\n\nLast week, the Children\u2019s Hospital Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics warned of \u201cunprecedented levels\u201d of RSV combined with increasing flu circulation are pushing many hospitals to the breaking point. At nearby Oishei Children's Hospital in Buffalo, 70% of the patients with flu-like symptoms test positive for RSV. The hospital has seen over 1000 pediatric RSV admissions this fall - more than double the number of admissions that they typically see over the entire 6-month season from this time last year. Schumer explained that the hospital sees 400 cases a year, and as of December, they have seen over 1,000 admissions. Schumer stated that this rapid increase in cases has caused the hospital to create 5 new overflow areas, which they continue to use to this day, straining the hospitals capacity. This major strain also comes as flu cases also are spiking across New York State, placing further strain on the health system. At Oishei, in just the four weeks between October 24th and November 20th, they\u2019ve seen 1171 pediatric ED and admitted patients testing positive for flu which is an over 800% increase over the same time last year in which only 132 tested positive. For Flu, in just 5 weeks they\u2019ve had nearly a 200% increase in the number of hospital admissions that they typically see over the entire six-month flu season. In a typical flu season (Nov \u2013 April) usually 70 \u2013 90 children are admitted with the flu. Over the last 5 weeks Oishei has already admitted 140 children.\n\nInfants 6 months and younger are getting hospitalized with RSV at more than seven times the weekly rate observed before the Covid-19 pandemic, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.\n\nSchumer was joined by local health and elected officials including David Kobis, CEO of Wyoming County Community Health System, Dr. Michael Mineo, Chief Medical Officer for Kaleida Health that includes Oishei Children\u2019s Hospital, and Rebecca Ryan, Chair Wyoming County Board of Supervisors.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/with-respiratory-viruses-skyrocketing-in-finger-lakes-children-hundreds-of-new-rsv-cases-in-yates-county-and-region-nearly-3000-in-monroe-county-this-year-alone-and-overburdened-hospitals-struggling-to-keep-up-schumer-calls-on-feds-to-launch-nationwide-action-plan-to-protect-ny-children-keep-our-hospitals-prepared-and-combat-rsv-before-its-too-late", "WITH RESPIRATORY VIRUSES SKYROCKETING IN FINGER LAKES CHILDREN, HUNDREDS OF NEW RSV CASES IN YATES COUNTY & REGION, NEARLY 3,000 IN MONROE COUNTY THIS YEAR ALONE, AND OVERBURDENED HOSPITALS STRUGGLING...", "2022-12-02", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV), Has Been Reaching Unprecedented Levels In Hospitals Nationwide At Nearly 7x The Weekly Rate Pre-Covid According To The CDC, At Strong Memorial Hospital, RSV Cases Have Tripled From This Time Last Year, 30% of Finger Lakes Health Urgent Care Patients Have RSV\n\nRSV Can Be Serious For Young Children And The Elderly- 70% Of Hospitalized in Monroe County Are Aged 0-4 and Tragically Three Monroe Residents Have Died This Year Alone\n\nSenator Says Feds Need A Comprehensive Plan To Address RSV and Be Ready to Send in Federal Support the Moment It\u2019s Needed\n\nSchumer: RSV Is On The Rise, And Feds Need To Step Up To Help Upstate Hospitals\n\nStanding at Finger Lakes Health Systems\u2019 Soldier and Sailors Hospital as Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV) cases surge in children across the Finger Lakes, U U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today launched a major new push to increase federal support for Upstate hospitals strained by the dramatic increase in RSV cases. At nearby Golisano Children's Hospital in Rochester, they've seen up to 40% of patients in the pediatric emergency department with RSV, already putting them overcapacity, and at Strong Memorial Hospital, RSV cases have tripled from this time last year. Finger Lakes Health system has seen an over 8% increase with more than 300 people diagnosed with RSV, Flu, COVID-19 and a dramatic rise in pediatric RSV cases with 30% of their urgent care centers\u2019 patient load now comprised of pediatric patients who have been particularly impacted by RSV this season. Flanked by pediatricians on the frontlines, Schumer said the spiking levels of RSV with growing flu rates warrants immediately federal action, and called for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to be ready to act at a moment\u2019s notice to provide whatever support upstate hospitals need. Schumer reported that the federal government has unique authority to help, with the power to support temporary structures, surge staffing if there are not enough pediatricians available, moving patients across states lines, credentialing out of state providers, enhancing the use of telehealth, coordinating medical supply chains and more.\n\n\u201cFinger Lakes hospitals are facing an unprecedented surge in RSV cases among children, and public health experts all say it is only going to get worse as we enter the cold winter months. Normally, RSV cases start to grow in October and November before peaking in December and January. It is outright scary given that hospitals are already struggling to keep up, and it\u2019s possible the worst is yet to come. As a grandfather to two young children, there is nothing more terrifying than the thought of them getting sick, and all across the Finger Lakes parents are facing hospitals who are pushed to the brink, with increased wait times, full beds, all while their child is struggling to breathe because of RSV,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cHospitals are doing their best on the frontlines, but the feds need to step up with a comprehensive plan to respond to this major spike and be ready for it to get worse. The feds have a unique ability to get more doctors and supplies where it\u2019s needed, and they need to be prepared to do so. Nobody really knows what will come next, and if an Upstate hospital says they need something, the feds need to be able to say \u2018help is on the way right now.\u2019 Hospitals cannot afford to wait.\u201d\n\nJose Acevedo, MD, President & CEO, Finger Lakes Health said, \u201cSimilar to regional tertiary and quaternary care facilities, at Finger Lakes Health, we are seeing more patients with RSV, influenza and Covid-19 while 30% of our urgent care patient loads are now pediatric patients who have been particularly impacted by RSV this season. Despite capacity constraints, our staff members are pushing the limit to respond to the surges in patient volumes. We are grateful to Senator Schumer who recognizes the importance of this work and the need to leverage resources to address these challenges. Together with his action earlier this month to ensure Soldiers & Sailors can retain its federal status as a \u2018Critical Access Hospital (CAH)\u2019 and receive over $1.4 million a year in additional Medicare reimbursements, we applaud Senator Schumer\u2019s push to help frontline care providers and patients impacted by the dramatic rise in RSV cases.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, Schumer said that he is calling for HHS to be ready and, if requested by hospitals, use its unique authority to help. Tools at HHS\u2019 disposal includes the power to support temporary structures like screening tents, surge staffing if there are not enough pediatricians available, moving patients across states lines, credentialing out of state providers, enhancing the use of telehealth, coordinating medical supply chains and more.\n\nRSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Schumer said that while most adults recover in a week or two, RSV can be very serious, especially for young children and older adults. RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia (infection of the lungs) in children younger than 1 year of age in the United States.\n\nLast week, the Children\u2019s Hospital Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics warned of \u201cunprecedented levels\u201d of RSV combined with increasing flu circulation are pushing many hospitals to the breaking point. Just in the period between September and mid-November more than 300 people have been diagnosed with RSV, Flu, COVID-19 through the Finger Lakes Health System, which Soldiers & Sailors Hospital is a part of, an over 8% increase compared to last year. Plus, Finger Lakes Health is dealing with a dramatic rise in pediatric RSV cases with 30% of their urgent care centers\u2019 patient load now comprised of pediatric patients who have been particularly impacted by RSV this season. This year, Monroe County has had 2,887 confirmed cases of RSV, 247 hospitalizations and 3 deaths associated with RSV, according to the Monroe County Health Department. Around 70% of hospitalized RSV cases in Monroe are patients aged 4 or younger. Because of RSV, Golisano Children\u2019s Hospital in Rochester reports illness visits are up nearly 300%, ED visits up 200% and hospitalizations are up by 25-40% compared to baseline, resulting in an occupancy of 120-140% of licensed capacity.\n\nThis major strain also comes as flu cases also are spiking across New York State, placing further strain on the health system. Infants 6 months and younger are getting hospitalized with RSV at more than seven times the weekly rate observed before the Covid-19 pandemic, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://clarke.house.gov/congresswoman-clarke-issues-statement-on-her-election-to-first-vice-chair-of-the-congressional-black-caucus/", "CONGRESSWOMAN CLARKE ISSUES STATEMENT ON HER ELECTION TO FIRST VICE-CHAIR OF THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS", "2022-12-01", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Yvette D. Clarke", "C001067", "clarke.house.gov", "clarke", "https://clarke.house.gov/category/press-release/", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:\n\nDecember 1, 2022\n\nMEDIA CONTACT:\n\ne: clarke.comms@mail.house.gov\n\nc: 347.387.5123\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) issued the following statement regarding her election to First Vice-Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus:\n\n\u201cI\u2019d like to thank my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), my Sisters and Brothers, each of whom I am blessed to serve with in the 118th Session of Congress for their support in my elevation to First Vice-Chair of our beloved CBC. Serving on the Executive Committee of the Congressional Black Caucus in the 118th Congress is more than a privilege, but an obligation that I do not take lightly. Each new Congress presents an opportunity for our 60 member strong Caucus to advance legislation and policy to address the myriad of persistent inequities that continue to impact Black communities across our country. Before us, today, countless new dimensions to these historic challenges continue to confront Congress, and we as a Caucus must remain vigilant if we are to overcome them. I have no doubt the dynamic talent and capabilities of our new Executive Committee will drive this truly extraordinary and remarkable caucus towards unseen heights and untold possibilities, from within the U.S. Congress and beyond, into the many beloved communities that are integral to the strengthening and growth of our nation. I have no doubt that our members will continue to build upon the success of our predecessors, support and uplift the causes so vital to the advancement of people of African-decent,\u201d said Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke.\n\n\u201cMuch in our nation and our Congress has changed since the days of bold and audacious actions from the likes of Shirley Chisholm and Charlie Rangel when they, alongside 11 of their Congressional colleagues, established the Congressional Black Caucus. What has not changed and will forever endure is the mission of this Caucus. For decades, we have provided a voice to the voiceless and a platform for the marginalized. Though the vast majority of our members will find ourselves in the Minority in this upcoming Congress, and though we are certain to face relentless obstruction, the mission will endure. And ultimately, as long as we stay the course, we will prevail. I firmly believe that before us stands nothing but opportunity: the opportunity to lift up and advance policy that provides new opportunities for never-before-seen economic growth. The opportunity to liberate the disenfranchised from the shackles of their marginalization, voter disenfranchisement and a broken immigration system. The opportunity to create pathways and corridors towards their prosperity. Despite any political roadblocks, barricades and obstacles to our progress, those facts remain absolute. In the months to come, I look forward to supporting the leadership and the work of Chairman Steven Horsford as First Vice-Chair during the 118th Congress. Today, as I prepare to once again take on the mantle of leadership within the CBC, I remain ever mindful that our Caucus is the Conscious of the Congress. My commitment to Black People, and the communities from which they hail is unwavering and rooted in the ethos established by my predecessor and founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, the late Honorable Shirley Chisholm. It\u2019s a pledge that has long guided my career and my own life: to remain unbought, and unbossed.\u201d\n\n###\n\nYvette D. Clarke has been in Congress since 2007. She represents New York\u2019s Ninth Congressional District, which includes Central and South Brooklyn. Clarke is a Senior Member of both the House Energy and Commerce Committee and House Committee on Homeland Security, where she serves as Chair of the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation Subcommittee.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://clarke.house.gov/congresswoman-clarke-issues-statement-on-the-election-of-hakeem-jeffries-as-the-new-democratic-leader-in-the-house-of-representatives/", "CONGRESSWOMAN CLARKE ISSUES STATEMENT ON THE ELECTION OF HAKEEM JEFFRIES AS THE NEW DEMOCRATIC LEADER IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES\ufffc", "2022-12-01", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Yvette D. Clarke", "C001067", "clarke.house.gov", "clarke", "https://clarke.house.gov/category/press-release/", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:\n\nDecember 1, 2022\n\nMEDIA CONTACT:\n\ne: clarke.comms@mail.house.gov\n\nc: 347.387.5123\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) issued the following statement regarding her vote for Congressman Hakeem Jeffries to be Leader of Congressional Democrats:\n\n\u201cIt was with a huge sense of pride that yesterday, I cast my vote to elevate my brother and dear colleague, the Honorable Hakeem Jeffries, from Chairman of the Democratic Caucus to the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. I consider it one of my greatest honors and a privilege of my career in Congress to be both a first hand witness and participant in the elevation of Congressman Jeffries, who is now the youngest and first person of color or Black legislator ever elected to lead a Congressional Party. And what a leader Hakeem Jeffries is. As a fellow Brooklynite, I have had countless occasions to work closely alongside Mr. Jeffries. His dedication, commitment and diligence to delivering on the progress and policy that transforms the lives of the people in the communities so dear to us has been a hallmark of his service to the people of the 8th District of New York. I have been fortunate to witness up-close both the breadth and depth of Rep. Jeffries\u2019s compassion for his constituents, the fervor with which he legislates, the eloquence of his advocacy and the courageous, dogged determination with which he has led in Washington DC. I have no doubt that he will draw upon that same passion, tenacity, talent, skill and ability in his new role leading Democrats in Congress. Inspired by the fight against injustice, the lived experiences of the \u201cleast, the last and the lost\u201d of our civil society, as well as an abiding love for the American people, the Constitution and a healthy respect for the rule of law, I am certain that Congressman Hakeem Jeffries will continue making history now and in the years to come. I look forward to supporting him as he does,\u201d said Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke.\n\n###\n\nYvette D. Clarke has been in Congress since 2007. She represents New York\u2019s Ninth Congressional District, which includes Central and South Brooklyn. Clarke is a Senior Member of both the House Energy and Commerce Committee and House Committee on Homeland Security, where she serves as Chair of the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation Subcommittee.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3753", "Tonko, Huffman Introduce Bill to Advance Floating Solar Energy", "2022-12-01", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Paul Tonko", "T000469", "tonko.house.gov", "tonko", "https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014Representatives Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) and Jared Huffman (D-CA) today introduced the POWER our Reservoirs Act (Protect our Waters and Expand Renewables on our Reservoirs Act) to advance clean energy production and drought protection at our nation\u2019s federal water reservoirs. This legislation will call on key federal agencies to study opportunities to deploy floating solar panels on their reservoirs and launch innovative pilot projects.\n\n\u201cThroughout my time in Congress, I have fought for innovative solutions that advance cleaner and safer communities for all,\u201d Congressman Tonko said. \u201cFloating solar offers tremendous opportunities to expand domestic renewable energy and protect our threatened water systems, including by reducing evaporation and preventing harmful algal blooms. According to a 2018 study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, deploying floating solar on the country\u2019s more than 24,000 human-made reservoirs could save 2.1 million hectares of land and meet 10 percent of the country\u2019s electricity needs. I am proud that this legislation will help tackle the dual crises of climate change and historic drought, driving our nation towards a more sustainable future.\u201d\n\n\u201cMy region is grappling with the compounding crisis of extreme drought driven by climate change, and we need innovative solutions to mitigate the worst of its impacts,\u201d said Rep. Huffman. \u201cOur legislation to promote floating solar panels is a creative, sustainable answer to meet this moment. Not only will it protect our depleting water systems \u2013 but it will expand renewable energy right here at home; a win-win for the climate and consumers.\u201d\n\nTonko has championed local projects that are already illustrating the promise of this technology, including securing $3 million for the City of Cohoes to install floating solar panels on the Cohoes reservoir. This effort will serve as a model for communities across the nation striving to implement smart, clean energy systems that drive down consumer costs.\n\nThe POWER our Reservoirs Act of 2022:\n\nRequires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) to study the feasibility of deploying floating solar panels on their reservoirs and make the results of the studies publicly available.\n\nEnsures that renewable energy from floating solar panels is considered as part of the USACE\u2019s annual Sustainability Report and Implementation Plan.\n\nFunds pilot programs at USACE and BOR to build floating solar panels on appropriate reservoirs.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://clarke.house.gov/congresswoman-clarke-issues-statement-on-passing-of-congressman-a-donald-mceachin/", "CONGRESSWOMAN CLARKE ISSUES STATEMENT ON PASSING OF CONGRESSMAN A. DONALD MCEACHIN", "2022-11-30", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Yvette D. Clarke", "C001067", "clarke.house.gov", "clarke", "https://clarke.house.gov/category/press-release/", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:\n\nNovember 29, 2022\n\nMEDIA CONTACT:\n\ne: clarke.comms@mail.house.gov\n\nc: 347.387.5123\n\nWashington, DC \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) released the following statement regarding the passing of Congressman A. Donald McEachin:\n\n\u201cI was devastated to hear of the loss of my dear friend and colleague, the great and kind Congressman A. Donald McEachin. Representing the best of both this nation and our Congress, Congressman McEachin fought for the people of Virginia proudly through his many years of public service. It was the privilege of my career to stand alongside Congressman McEachin on the Committee on Energy and Commerce, where, through difficult days and good ones, he persisted as a dedicated ally in our many shared pursuits of equity and prosperity for underserved communities. His passing has opened a pained rift that will never fully heal. Yet, despite that truth, I am certain Congressman McEachin\u2019s profound legacy will guide the House of Representatives for untold decades to come. And I am certain his great name will echo these great halls long after my time within them ends. On behalf of the Clarke family and myself, our heartfelt condolences go to Donald\u2019s loved ones and the good people of Virginia\u2019s 4th District, whom he treasured so deeply. I pray the eternal love and grace of God greets Donald warmly, and I pray he knows his everlasting peace,\u201d said Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke.\n\n###\n\nYvette D. Clarke has been in Congress since 2007. She represents New York\u2019s Ninth Congressional District, which includes Central and South Brooklyn. Clarke is a Senior Member of both the House Energy and Commerce Committee and House Committee on Homeland Security, where she serves as Chair of the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation Subcommittee.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://espaillat.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-espaillat-congressional-hispanic-caucus-nominate-33-latino-songs-inclusion", "REP. ESPAILLAT, CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS NOMINATE 33 LATINO SONGS FOR INCLUSION IN NATIONAL RECORDING REGISTRY", "2022-11-30", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Adriano Espaillat", "E000297", "espaillat.house.gov", "espaillat", "https://espaillat.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- This week, CHC Vice Chair Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Rep. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), and Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Raul Ruiz (CA-36) led the CHC in nominating 33 works by Latino artists for inclusion in the Library of Congress\u2019s National Recording Registry.\n\n\u201cThe National Recording Registry\u2019s very existence speaks to the importance of music and broadcast in American culture and society. Music brings people from all different backgrounds together, and Latino music has had an indelible influence across the American music spectrum on every genre from jazz, rhythm and blues, country, pop, and hip-hop. Yet, Latino contributions in music have been insufficiently recognized,\u201d the members wrote in their nomination letter. \u201cAs an art, the diversity of the Latino sound can be heard in every measure and resonates with every beat\u2026These songs were selected with feedback from the public, and they reflect the diversity of Latino identities, histories, and geographies. We hope you will give each of these songs listed below careful consideration and that we will see many of them included in the National Recording Registry.\u201d\n\nThe National Recording Registry is the nation\u2019s preeminent archive of recorded sound. Established by the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000, the Registry is intended to maintain and preserve sound recordings and collections of sound recordings that have cultural, historic, or aesthetic significance to life in the United States. On an annual basis, the National Recording Preservation Board selects 25 recordings to add to the registry and preserve in the Library of Congress. The Registry currently contains 600 works, of which just 23 (3.8%) were recorded by Latino artists.\n\nThe works nominated by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus were drawn from hundreds of public suggestions submitted through social media. The list was crafted to highlight artists with no prior songs on the Registry and works were intentionally chosen to represent the diversity of the Latino experience \u2014 including Spanish-language and bilingual tracks, tracks from Afro-Latino/a and LGBTQ+ Latino/a artists, and artists from across the Latino diaspora.\n\nThe full CHC list of nominations to the National Recording Registry is as follows:\n\n\u00b7 Wasted Days and Wasted Nights (canci\u00f3n) por Freddy Fender (1974)\n\n\u00b7 Flashdance\u2026 What a Feeling (canci\u00f3n) por Irene Cara (1983)\n\n\u00b7 Corridos Prohibidos (\u00e1lbum) por Los Tigres Del Norte (2009)\n\n\u00b7 Amor Eterno (canci\u00f3n) por Juan Gabriel (1990)\n\n\u00b7 Hips Don\u2019t Lie (canci\u00f3n) por Shakira (2005)\n\n\u00b7 El Rey (canci\u00f3n) por Vicente Fernandez (1972)\n\n\u00b7 Romance (\u00e1lbum) por Luis Miguel (1991)\n\n\u00b7 The Power of the Moon (\u00e1lbum) por Lumbre Del Sol (1999)\n\n\u00b7 The Candy Man (canci\u00f3n) por Sammy Davis Jr. (1972)\n\n\u00b7 Paloma Negra (canci\u00f3n) por Chavela Vargas (1961)\n\n\u00b7 El Cantante (canci\u00f3n) por H\u00e9ctor Lavoe (1978)\n\n\u00b7 Luna Llena (canci\u00f3n) por Elida Reyna y Avante (1994)\n\n\u00b7 \u00bfD\u00f3nde Jugar\u00e1n los Ni\u00f1os? (\u00e1lbum) por Man\u00e1 (1992)\n\n\u00b7 Suavemente (canci\u00f3n) por Elvis Crespo (1999)\n\n\u00b7 Genie in a Bottle (canci\u00f3n) por Christina Aguilera (1999)\n\n\u00b7 I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) (canci\u00f3n) por Pitbull (2009)\n\n\u00b7 Lost in Emotion (canci\u00f3n) por Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam (Lisa Velez) (1987)\n\n\u00b7 Fuiste T\u00fa (canci\u00f3n) por Ricardo Arjona featuring Gaby Moreno (2011)\n\n\u00b7 Black Sunday (\u00e1lbum) por Cypress Hill (1993)\n\n\u00b7 J. Lo (\u00e1lbum) por Jennifer Lopez (2001)\n\n\u00b7 Gasolina (canci\u00f3n) por Daddy Yankee (2004)\n\n\u00b7 Sure Thing (canci\u00f3n) por Miguel (2010)\n\n\u00b7 (Hey Baby) Que Paso (canci\u00f3n) por Texas Tornadoes (1990)\n\n\u00b7 It Must Be Him (canci\u00f3n) by Vikki Carr (1967)\n\n\u00b7 Feliz Navidad (song) por Jos\u00e9 Feliciano (1970)\n\n\u00b7 Dicen Que Soy (\u00e1lbum) por La India (1994)\n\n\u00b7 Rinconcito en el Cielo (canci\u00f3n) por Ram\u00f3n Ayala (1985)\n\n\u00b7 Lean Back (canci\u00f3n) por Terror Squad, Fat Joe, y Remy Ma (2004)\n\n\u00b7 Rage Against the Machine (\u00e1lbum) por Rage Against the Machine (1992)\n\n\u00b7 I Need to Know (canci\u00f3n) por Marc Anthony (1999)\n\n\u00b7 Hoy Ya Me Voy (canci\u00f3n) por Kany Garc\u00eda (2007)\n\n\u00b7 In the Heights (Original Broadway Cast Recording) (album) (2008)\n\n\u00b7 El Costo de la Vida (canci\u00f3n) por Juan Luis Guerra (1992)\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://espaillat.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-adriano-espaillat-statement-championing-paid-sick-leave-and", "REPRESENTATIVE ADRIANO ESPAILLAT STATEMENT CHAMPIONING PAID SICK LEAVE AND DEAL FOR RAILWAY WORKERS", "2022-11-30", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Adriano Espaillat", "E000297", "espaillat.house.gov", "espaillat", "https://espaillat.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) issued the following statement regarding a deal to provide contract legislation for railway workers that includes paid sick leave:\n\n\"Rail workers have worked tirelessly to provide services to American commuters, and we simply cannot turn our back on them and their families now when they need us the most,\" said Espaillat. \"I am proud that my Congressional Progressive Caucus colleagues and I, along with leadership, announced a deal that allows our chamber to pass contract legislation for railway workers that includes paid sick leave.\n\n\"President Biden has called on Congress to take action to protect the economic security of America\u2019s working families, and I stand ready to assist by taking critical legislative action today to avert a devastating nationwide rail strike, further disruptions to the national supply train, and catastrophe travel delays for families amid the busy holiday travel season.\n\n\"Today, my congressional House colleagues and I will take up urgent legislation to adopt the Tentative Agreement reached after months of hard-fought negotiations, with a critical amendment to provide paid sick leave. We stand by rail workers and will find solutions to keep rail services and transportation running around the country.\"\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/meng-issues-statement-on-the-election-of-hakeem-jeffries-as-the-new", "Meng Issues Statement On The Election Of Hakeem Jeffries As The New Democratic Leader In The House Of Representatives", "2022-11-30", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Grace Meng", "M001188", "meng.house.gov", "meng", "https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), New York's senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, today issued the following statement hailing the election of Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn) as the new Democratic Leader in the United States House of Representatives.\n\n\"I have known Hakeem since I entered the New York State Legislature in 2009. Early on, I came to view him as a friend and big brother. From the Assembly to Congress, I have always valued his advice \u2013 whether on moving legislation, or how to best support constituents.\n\nHakeem is an outstanding public servant and wonderful human being. He is a natural and steady leader on whom Brooklyn families have come to rely on in both high and low moments. I am so proud of Hakeem, and I was honored to help second his historic nomination as our Caucus unanimously elected him to become the new Democratic Leader in the House.\n\nHe is studious, smart, and does not seek headlines for himself. Instead, he selflessly goes out of his way to make sure that colleagues are recognized for their work, and shine in the spotlight. He is a collaborative leader who will seek out and include as many voices as possible. He sees the strengths in each of our colleagues, and will work to ensure that these talents are fully recognized and utilized.\n\nI am confident in the direction of House Democrats with Hakeem at the helm. I know he will keep us unified as one team as we retake the House Majority in 2024, and I am excited to partner with him in his new role. Congratulations to my friend and fellow New Yorker!\"\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3752", "Tonko Votes to Secure Paid Leave for Railroad Workers", "2022-11-30", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Paul Tonko", "T000469", "tonko.house.gov", "tonko", "https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014Congressman Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) today voted in the House to pass H.J. Res. 100 and H. Con. Res. 119, which would avoid a railroad shutdown and add seven days of paid sick leave to the Tentative Agreement for railroad workers.\n\n\u201cRailroad workers are the backbone of our nation\u2019s economy,\u201d Congressman Tonko said. \u201cLike all Americans, they deserve more than just one day of paid sick leave, and today, I voted with my colleagues in the House to grant them that basic, dignified request. To be clear, Congress was moved to act because of the remorseless greed of railroad companies. These multi-billion dollar companies thwarted good faith negotiations with union rail workers to hold our economy hostage under the threat of a rail shutdown all to deny their employees the ability to take off of work when they are sick. Today we stood with hard-working railroaders to ensure they have sick leave, fairer wages, and improved benefits and working conditions. I hope the Senate moves this critical legislation forward and sends it to the President\u2019s desk at once.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-announces-anne-nardacci-confirmed-as-federal-district-court-judge-for-the-northern-district-of-new-york-senator-says-capital-region-natives-confirmation-marks-historic-achievement-for-bench-making-ndny-a-majority-women-bench-", "SCHUMER ANNOUNCES ANNE NARDACCI CONFIRMED AS FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT JUDGE FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK; SENATOR SAYS CAPITAL REGION NATIVE\u2019S CONFIRMATION MARKS HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENT FOR BENCH\u2013...", "2022-11-30", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Schumer Personally Recommended Nardacci For Nomination To The Northern District Federal Bench \u2013 The 3rd Woman He Has Recommended To NDNY\n\nSchumer Has Singlehandedly Increased Women On Northern District From 0% To 60% Making It A Majority Female Bench Among Active Judges\n\nSchumer: Nardacci Will Bring Profound Expertise, Honor, & History To The Capital Region Bench\n\nFollowing his personal recommendation to President Biden, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced the Senate confirmation of the Capital Region\u2019s Anne Nardacci to serve as a judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York.\n\nAfter her nomination, Schumer personally introduced Judge Nardacci to the Senate Judiciary Committee. This is the third woman Senator Schumer has recommended for nomination to serve on the NDNY bench, following Mae D'Agostino and Brenda Sannes, which has transformed the court from being all men \u2013 to now a historic majority of women among active judges. Schumer said he is immensely proud to have recommended this highly accomplished Capital Region attorney and that Judge Nardacci will bring tremendous legal acumen to the federal bench in Albany and cited her record protecting consumers and fighting corporate wrongdoing, as well as her commitment to the rule of law.\n\n\u201cThe Capital Region\u2019s own, Anne Nardacci, will now officially be bringing her tremendous expertise, integrity, and intelligence to the bench as a district court judge for the Northern District of New York. Judge Nardacci has spent nearly twenty years fighting for transparency and the rights of consumers, and holding wrongdoers accountable -- all invaluable experience that demonstrates her ability to apply equal justice under the law to the Capital Region. With her confirmation, the Northern District bench has now transformed to a historic majority of women serving as active judges, and I am proud to have recommended three highly qualified legal professionals to make it happen,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cThe legal field is better because of highly-qualified professionals like the Capital Region\u2019s own Anne Nardacci. She will bring dignity, excellence and honor to her post as a judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York.\u201d\n\nThe bio for Anne Nardacci appears below:\n\nAnne Nardacci, 44, has spent nearly twenty years litigating complex commercial and antitrust cases in federal courts across the country. She currently serves as partner at Boies Schiller Flexner LLP in Albany, New York. She has been with the firm since 2005. She began her legal career at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in New York City, where she served as an associate from 2002 to 2005 in their antitrust department. Prior to law school, Ms. Nardacci served on the staff of former Congressman Michael R. McNulty in Washington, DC. She is a graduate of Cornell Law School (2002) and Georgetown University (1998). She served as an editor of the Cornell Law Review and was elected Phi Beta Kappa at Georgetown. Throughout her career as a litigator in federal court, she has represented classes of consumers, including classes of consumer debtors harmed by inaccurate and misleading credit reporting by banks, as well as individuals and entities harmed by price-fixing cartels and other anti-competitive behavior by large companies and foreign conglomerates. Ms. Nardacci is also an active member of the New York State Bar Association Antitrust Section's Executive Committee.\n\nMs. Nardacci (Torrey), grew up in East Greenbush, NY and graduated from Columbia High School. She resides in Colonie, NY with her husband and two children.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://espaillat.house.gov/media/press-releases/espaillat-and-ocasio-cortez-lead-effort-provide-shelter-unhoused-and-asylum", "ESPAILLAT AND OCASIO-CORTEZ LEAD EFFORT TO PROVIDE SHELTER FOR THE UNHOUSED AND ASYLUM SEEKERS", "2022-11-29", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Adriano Espaillat", "E000297", "espaillat.house.gov", "espaillat", "https://espaillat.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- Representatives Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) have introduced critical legislation to protect housing insecure migrants and individuals.\n\nH.R.9210 aims to waive certain requirements for Community Development Block Grant amounts used for public services activities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to homelessness and emergency rental assistance needs.\n\n\u201cOur bill will eliminate the 15% cap on housing public services, as stipulated in the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and extend CDBG emergency grant payments from three to six months. These changes will alleviate pressure on municipalities dealing with the homelessness crisis and provide tens of thousands of underprivileged people with the benefits they deserve to live a healthy and safe existence, all while encouraging self-sufficiency,\u201d said the Members.\n\nNotably, the cap on public services allows only a small fraction of money to be spent on vital resources such as shelter. In addition, emergency grant payments are currently able to be disbursed to individuals and families for up to three consecutive months. These payments cover rent, utility, and mortgage bills, providing those in need with a lifeline in times of crisis. Three months is often not enough, as residents in danger of eviction need timely support to get on their feet and cover food, education, transportation, and other life-sustaining costs. For asylum seekers awaiting their work permits, extending this time period will afford immigrant families access to shelter in the interim\u2014a human right as recognized by the United Nations International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://espaillat.house.gov/media/press-releases/save-date-representative-adriano-espaillat-host-fifth-annual-dominicans-hill", "SAVE the DATE:  Representative Adriano Espaillat to Host the Fifth Annual Dominicans on the Hill", "2022-11-29", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Adriano Espaillat", "E000297", "espaillat.house.gov", "espaillat", "https://espaillat.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Wednesday, February 8, 2023\n\nEventbrite\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Save the date for Representative Adriano Espaillat's (NY-13) fifth annual Dominicans on the Hill event that will be held live and in-person on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, at the United States Capitol in Washington, DC.\n\nHeld annually during Dominican Heritage Month, Dominicans on the Hill was created by Rep. Espaillat to recognize the growing civic engagement of the Dominican-American community and throughout the diaspora.\n\nSince its inception, Dominicans on the Hill has become a signature event held at the United States Capitol that is attended by hundreds of community leaders, professionals, students, and elected officials of Dominican descent and groups from around the nation.\n\nVisit online for updates about the 2023 event and check Twitter and Facebook: @RepEspaillat and @DominicansHill and on Instagram at @RepAdrianoEspaillat.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3744", "Tonko Calls for Agency to Protect Consumers from Cyber Grinch Bots During the Holiday Season", "2022-11-28", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Paul Tonko", "T000469", "tonko.house.gov", "tonko", "https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014Congressman Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan calling for the FTC to take steps to protect consumers and businesses from predatory cyber bots (commonly called Grinch bots) that buy up popular toys only to resell them exorbitantly marked-up prices.\n\nTonko authored legislation called the Stopping Grinch Bots Act that cracks down on cyber Grinches using \u201cbot\u201d technology to quickly buy up whole inventories of popular holiday toys and resell them to parents at higher prices. These third-party sellers use bots to bypass security measures and manipulate online sales systems to buy toys, leading to some toys being almost impossible to buy online or in stores at retail prices, exacerbating shortages caused by stressed supply chains.\n\n\u201cAs millions of Americans turn to the online marketplace to find the perfect gift during the holiday season, so do scammers deploying cyber bots,\u201d the letter states. \u201cAutomated Grinch bots use software to submit hundreds of orders a minute for trending products in an attempt to corner the market and then resell them at extreme, even abusive, prices. In Congress, I am hard at work to prevent these scammers from taking advantage of Americans through my Stopping Grinch Bots Act. This legislation would prohibit manipulative practices that allow the use of bots to circumvent control measures designed to protect real consumers. I urge [the Federal Trade Commission] to do all that [it] can to ensure that this market manipulation does not go unchecked and to prevent these Grinch bots from stealing the cheer away this holiday season.\u201d\n\nBots are software programs that can automatically spot and snap up inventory on sale online. In a matter of seconds, third-party vendors can purchase hundreds of items, squeezing out parents and children. In 2016, Tonko authored the Better Online Ticket Sales Act (BOTS Act) that was signed into law to ban \u201cticket bots\u201d that intentionally bypass security measures on online ticketing websites to unfairly outprice individual fans. This new legislation would apply the mechanism of the BOTS Act to e-commerce sites to ban bots bypassing security measures on online retail sites.\n\nFull text of the letter can be read HERE and below:\n\nThe Honorable Lina M. Khan\n\nChair\n\nFederal Trade Commission\n\n600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW\n\nWashington, DC 20580\n\nDear Chairwoman Khan,\n\nI write to you ahead of this holiday season with concerns about the practices of \u201cGrinch\u201d bots.\n\nSince the days of Tickle Me Elmo, the holiday season has enchanted Americans with trending toys and the hopes of parents securing the one gift their child wants most. As millions of Americans turn to the online marketplace to find the perfect gift during the holiday season, so do scammers deploying cyber bots. Automated Grinch bots use software to submit hundreds of orders a minute for trending products in an attempt to corner the market and then resell them at extreme, even abusive, prices. We have seen this disturbing measure used with sneakers, Nintendos, Fingerlings, and other popular toys or gifts, dashing the hopes of parents to fulfill their child\u2019s holiday wish list.\n\nIn the last two years, the COVID-19 crisis has significantly accelerated e-commerce expansion and led to new targets for automated abuse. Industries such as gaming are increasingly subjected to product shortages and price increases created by Grinch bots, making millions of dollars for scammers and in-demand products inaccessible to the average consumer. Holiday toys and video games are one timely example, but there are many other consumer products that are subjected to this nefarious and dispiriting practice. The pandemic showed that bots can be quickly adapted to exploit any market inefficiency with products including N95 masks and hand sanitizer being popular targets of bot attacks when supplies were low.\n\nIn addition to hurting American consumers, this practice is damaging to small businesses. Many retailers have tried instituting control measures, but bad actors continue to find ways to game the system. In Congress, I am hard at work to prevent these scammers from taking advantage of Americans through my Stopping Grinch Bots Act. This legislation would prohibit manipulative practices that allow the use of bots to circumvent control measures designed to protect real consumers. I hope to have the Federal Trade Commission\u2019s continued support in this effort so that we can work together to combat these Grinch bots.\n\nI commend the Federal Trade Commission\u2019s continued commitment to protect consumers on the internet, including through enforcement of the 2016 BOTs Act, the release of the Combatting Online Harms through Innovation Report, and the resolution Directing Use of Compulsory Process Regarding Deceptive and Manipulative Conduct on the Internet. However, I respectfully request you bolster your efforts to reduce harm, manipulation, and deception online.\n\nI recommend you do this by working with retailers and state attorney generals to determine actionable steps and best practices to protect consumers from predatory high-speed bot purchases on e-commerce platforms. I urge you to act expediently to prevent Grinch bots from ruining the holiday season this year and take steps to prevent broader scams in the future.\n\nIn addition, to help further inform our efforts in Congress, I request that you respond to the following:\n\nHow has the scope of this problem changed over the last few years?\n\nWhat is the FTC doing in the lead up to the holidays to discourage or stop this behavior?\n\nAre there any consequences for those who employ bots to do this?\n\nWhat are some of the prominent examples this year where you anticipate or see Grinch bots at work?\n\nWithin your current authorities, what else can you do to curb these abusive practices? In what ways are you limited?\n\nIn what ways are you limited by statute to act in this space?\n\nThank you for your consideration and work in tackling the negative actions of predatory Grinch bots.\n\nAllowing bots to rig prices and squeeze consumers hurts American families, small business owners, product makers, and entrepreneurs. I urge you to do all that you can to ensure that this market manipulation does not go unchecked and to prevent these Grinch bots from stealing the cheer away this holiday season.\n\nSincerely,\n\nCongressman Paul D. Tonko\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3750", "Tonko Honors 2022 NY-20 Congressional App Challenge Winner at Emma Willard School", "2022-11-28", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Paul Tonko", "T000469", "tonko.house.gov", "tonko", "https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "TROY, NY \u2013 Congressman Paul D. Tonko visited Emma Willard School in Troy today to recognize Robyn Wu (they/them), the winner of the 2022 Congressional App Challenge for New York\u2019s 20th Congressional District. During the visit, Tonko delivered congratulatory remarks and presented Robyn with a Congressional Certificate of Achievement and a letter of recognition for this exciting honor.\n\n\u201cI am always amazed by the talent and creativity of our Capital Region\u2019s students, and this year\u2019s submissions for the Congressional App Challenge put that ingenuity on full display,\u201d Congressman Tonko said. \u201cWith their Vultures of Emma app, Robyn demonstrated both their impressive coding skills and an admirable motivation to learn more and to educate others about the history of Emma Willard\u2019s campus and its surrounding natural environment, and I\u2019m proud to acknowledge Robyn\u2019s contribution to the Capital Region\u2019s long history of technological innovation. I\u2019m grateful to Robyn for their hard work, and I congratulate all the students who participated in this year\u2019s App Challenge.\u201d\n\nRobyn\u2019s app, Vultures of Emma, is a one-stop hub for students, faculty, and members of the community to learn more about the 50+ vultures who can often be seen perched atop buildings on Emma Willard\u2019s campus. Eager to learn more about these mysterious birds, Robyn worked alongside fellow student Lidia \"Dia\" Krylova to gather information, then personally coded the entire website from scratch using a combination of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript coding languages.\n\nYou can learn more about the app by visiting its webpage, vulturesofemma.org, or by viewing Robyn\u2019s submission video on YouTube.\n\nThis year\u2019s NY-20 Congressional App Challenge winner was chosen by a distinguished panel of local judges, including Dr. Mohammed J. Zaki, Professor and Department Head of Computer Science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Annmarie Lanesey, CEO and Founder of CanCode Communities, and Tobi Saulnier, CEO of 1st Playable Productions.\n\nThe Congressional App Challenge was created by Congress in 2013 to encourage innovation and engagement in coding, computer science, and STEM education. The App Challenge is open to all eligible middle and high school-aged students in New York\u2019s 20th Congressional District, regardless of coding experience.\n\nTo view photos of Congressman Tonko\u2019s meeting with Robyn, click HERE, HERE, and HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/meng-issues-statement-on-terror-attacks-in-jerusalem", "Meng Issues Statement on Terror Attacks in Jerusalem", "2022-11-23", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Grace Meng", "M001188", "meng.house.gov", "meng", "https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "QUEENS, NY \u2013 U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, today issued the following statement on the two deadly terror attacks in Jerusalem.\n\n\"I condemn in the strongest terms the despicable terror attacks in Jerusalem, and I am heartbroken to learn that one took the life of a young teenage student. The international community must denounce these cowardly and heinous acts, and those responsible must be brought to justice.\n\nMy deepest condolences go out to the victim's loved ones, and I wish a speedy recovery to all who have been injured.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3745", "Tonko Visits Saratoga Shops Ahead of Small Business Saturday", "2022-11-23", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Paul Tonko", "T000469", "tonko.house.gov", "tonko", "https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY\u2014Congressman Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) celebrated Small Business Saturday early this week by visiting locally owned businesses and meeting with the workers who keep these shops going. During his visits, Tonko highlighted the economic potential of Capital Region shops, and encouraged residents to shop local this holiday season.\n\n\u201cSmall businesses are the engine of our economy, and the ingenuity and diversity of our local entrepreneurs is a great source of pride for our Capital Region,\u201d Congressman Tonko said. \u201cWe can express our thanks to these shops that add so much vibrancy and economic potential to our communities by buying local. What\u2019s more, shopping at small businesses directly benefits all in our region, as each dollar spent has three times the economic impact on the community as buying from national chains. I thank our incredible small business owners for their hard work and dedication that continues to make our region a better place, and I encourage everyone to truly celebrate the holiday spirit of giving and shop small!\n\nTonko\u2019s discussions with Capital Region businesses and stakeholders included:\n\nA meeting with the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce along with stakeholders from Discover Saratoga, the City Center, the Downtown Business Association, the Preservation Foundation and other local organizations to learn more about their efforts to support small businesses and the greater community.\n\nA tour of Lyrical Ballad, a locally owned independent bookstore in downtown Saratoga Springs that has captivated locals and visitors alike since 1971 with its unique labyrinth of more than 200,000 new, used, and rare books.\n\nA tour of Willow Marsh Farm, a fifth-generation diversified family farm, uses this location to sell their own meat and dairy products as well as a wide variety of local produce, baked goods, candles, soaps, and much more.\n\nA visit to Burnt Hills Caf\u00e9, a multigenerational, Greek-American, family-owned diner that received federal support through the Paycheck Protection Program, Restaurant Revitalization Fund and other federal programs Tonko helped pass under the COVID rescue plan.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/following-buffalos-record-breaking-snowvember-slamming-wny-with-nearly-7-feet-of-snow-and-leaving-millions-of-dollars-in-damage-schumer-calls-on-feds-to-immediately-get-all-hands-on-deckand-boots-on-groundto-western-ny_", "FOLLOWING BUFFALO\u2019S RECORD-BREAKING SNOWVEMBER, SLAMMING WNY WITH NEARLY 7 FEET OF SNOW AND LEAVING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGE, SCHUMER CALLS ON FEDS TO IMMEDIATELY GET ALL HANDS ON DECK\u2014AND BOOTS...", "2022-11-23", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "In The Wake Of Last Weekend\u2019s Massive Lake-Effect Storms\u2014Dropping 7 Feet Of Snow\u2014Working With Governor Hochul, Schumer Secured Federal Emergency Declaration For WNY Counties\n\nNow, As Damage Totals Continue To Rise, Schumer Says Feds Need Waive $5M Cap For Assistance Get $$$ Out The Door To Help Communities Dig Out, And Start Providing Assistance For Damaged Businesses\n\nSchumer: We Can\u2019t Leave Buffalo Out In The Cold, Feds Need To Help Dig Out WNY ASAP\n\nStanding with mountains of snow at his back as workers continue to plow and remove snow across Western New York, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today launched a major all hands on deck approach to increase the amount of federal assistance, and the pace of its delivery, for Western New York following the record-breaking November snowstorm. Schumer explained that now, with a federal emergency declaration secured thanks to an effective partnership with Governor Hochul, the feds need to prioritize maximizing and accelerating the aide to help snow-impacted communities recover.\n\n\u201cBuffalo and Western New York were buried under nearly 7 feet of record breaking snowfall and now with a emergency declaration in hand we need the feds to get all hands on deck and put our Upstate communities on the fully plowed road to recovery. That means boots on the grounds assessing the damage and expanding the assistance to get those who suffered the most damage the assistance they need,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cThat is why I am also calling for FEMA to waive the current cap on assistance if totals continue to rise and exceed $5 million as expected, and for the SBA to prepare assistance for our small businesses that suffered damage and weathered the storm with more aide to help them rebuild. We can\u2019t leave our Western NY and Upstate communities out in the cold with more snow on the way this winter, it is time for the feds to dig in and boost resources to help our communities dig out of Snowvember 2.0\u201d\n\n\"On behalf of the people of Erie County, I want to thank Senators Schumer, Gillibrand and Congressman Higgins for working with President Biden to ensure an extraordinarily quick approval of Governor Hochul's request for a federal emergency declaration,\u201d said County Executive Mark Poloncarz. \u201cThis will allow Erie County and the municipalities of our region proceed with storm-related clean-up costs knowing we are eligible for reimbursement as we continue to work collaboratively with our recovery efforts from this historic storm.\"\n\nOver the weekend of November 18th, Western New York and other Upstate communities received record snowfall of nearly seven feet. Orchard Park in Erie county reported upward of 80 inches, with peak snowfall accumulations of six inches per hour. The senator said the extreme snowfall created impossible travel conditions, caused power outages, flight cancellations, severe damage to infrastructure, and unfortunately resulted in the tragic loss of life of three New Yorkers from cardiac complications related to shoveling snow. On Sunday evening, November 20th, President Biden approved New York State\u2019s request for an Emergency Declaration for Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Jefferson, Lewis, Niagara, Oneida, Oswego, St. Lawrence, Wyoming counties. The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act authorizes the president to issue \u201cmajor disaster\u201d or \u201cemergency\u201d declarations before or after catastrophes occur. The decision to issue a declaration is at the discretion of the president, and must be requested by the governor of the state. These declarations unlock federal aid through the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) and at times, the Small Business Administration (SBA).\n\nSchumer said that the extreme snowstorm requires the feds to put all hands on deck and called for them to immediately begin work to maximize assistance to Western NY and other impacted communities. Specifically, Schumer explained that first he is calling for FEMA to waive the cap on the amount of assistance for impacted communities should the need arise. According to current regulations, the total amount of assistance provided under a single emergency may not exceed $5 million, but as damage costs continue to amount and local leaders anticipate meetings this cap, Schumer said it is imperative that they have the ability to receive further funding to recover.\n\nSimilarly, the senator said he is also calling on the Small Business Administration to prepare aid and if deemed necessary issue an agency-level disaster declaration to unlock loans and other forms of assistance to help damaged businesses recover from the storm. Countless businesses were not able to open for their regular hours on what would have been a pre-holiday weekend. Many businesses missed out on operating during a Bills home game. The snow also impacted the infrastructure of many businesses in the area, including the collapse of Braymiller\u2019s Lanes in Hamburg and a Sunoco station in West Seneca. This would allow the SBA to offer low-interest loans for physical and economic damage caused by the snowstorm for business in the impacted counties.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-announces-after-years-of-fighting-to-protect-federal-critical-access-status-for-rural-delaware-county-hospitals-feds-have-now-officially-changed-rules-so-impacted-rural-ny-hospitals-can-keep-designation-to-receive-over-35m-in-reimbursements-and-maintain-critical-services-in-upstates-most-underserved-rural-communities", "SCHUMER ANNOUNCES, AFTER YEARS OF FIGHTING TO PROTECT FEDERAL CRITICAL ACCESS STATUS FOR RURAL DELAWARE COUNTY HOSPITALS, FEDS HAVE NOW OFFICIALLY CHANGED RULES SO IMPACTED RURAL NY HOSPITALS CAN KEEP...", "2022-11-23", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Status Provides Rural Hospitals Enhanced Reimbursement Rates To Keep Healthcare Services In Underserved Communities Like Those In The North Country, Finger Lakes & Other Upstate Communities; BUT A Rules Change Risked Arbitrarily Making Many Rural Upstate Hospitals Ineligible Putting Healthcare Providers At Risk\n\nSchumer Immediately Began Leading The Charge To Protect Rural Upstate Hospitals, Writing Multiple Letters, Calling HHS Sec Personally To Fight The More Restrictive Definitions; Feds Said They Would Heed His Call Earlier This Year, And Now The Rules Change Has Officially Been Enacted Allowing Impacted Upstate Hospitals Continue To Receive Over $35M Annually To Maintain Essential Care \u2013 And Making It So Other Hospitals Can Apply For This Program\n\nSchumer: Delaware County Rural Hospitals & Families Can Breathe A Sigh Of Relief, CAH Is Here To Stay!\n\nToday, standing at A.O. Fox Hospital Tri-Town Campus, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer revealed that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has officially finalized the reversal of its previous rules change for the eligibility criteria for rural hospitals that put many Delaware County and Upstate New York hospitals at risk of losing their Critical Access Hospital (CAH) status. In total, this is expected to save Southern Tier hospitals over $5.4 million annually, $2.4 million for Margaretville Hospital, $3 million for O\u2019Connor Hospital, along with other Upstate hospitals, for a total of $35 million across Upstate NY. Schumer explained that rule reversal is now expected to go into effect on January 1, 2023, which will allow current hospitals to maintain their CAH status, and other hospitals, like those previously denied, to reapply for this designation to potentially receive millions in critical reimbursements.\n\n\u201cAfter years of advocacy, Southern Tier families can breathe a sigh of relief knowing their local hospitals will continue to receive the funding they need to provide lifesaving care in underserved rural communities. I promised Delaware County doctors and rural hospitals across Upstate New York that I would not stop fighting until these rules changes were fixed and their Critical Access Hospital designation was preserved, and now I can say a promise made is a promise kept,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cThis rule reversal will ensure our most vulnerable hospitals get the federal help they need to maintain essential healthcare services in the Southern Tier and will give hospitals who were previously denied the opportunity to reapply and potentially get more federal support in the future. Our hospitals are critical to keeping our communities safe, which is why I will always fight for them to cut through the bureaucracy and deliver aide for our hospitals that need it most.\u201d\n\n\u201cOn behalf of O\u2019Connor Hospital and the entire Bassett Healthcare Network, we are grateful to Senator Schumer for his leadership in urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to clarify its \u201clocation requirement.\u201d Left unchanged, there would have been significant negative impacts for a number of Critical Access Hospitals, including O\u2019Connor Hospital. This clarification provides the people of Delaware County the comfort of knowing their local hospital is no longer in jeopardy of closing. Without the Critical Access designation, an estimated increased financial burden of at least $3M annually would have likely forced O\u2019Connor Hospital to close or significantly curtail services,\u201d said Dr. Tommy A. Ibrahim, President & CEO of Bassett Healthcare Network. \u201cOur elderly, low income and chronically ill patients would have suffered the most, countless patents\u2019 lives would have been jeopardized, and over 200 high quality jobs would have been lost. Thankfully, O'Connor Hospital is now able to continue providing a full range of acute, preventive, and specialty health care services. Bassett is appreciative of Senator Schumer\u2019s understanding of these significant impacts and his leadership to resolving this vital issue.\u201d\n\n\u201cMargaretville Hospital is a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) and an essential and necessary provider supporting the health and welfare of the rural and underserved communities in Delaware and western Ulster County\u201d, said Dr. Michael Doyle, Executive Director and Chief Medical Officer of HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley. \u201cThanks to Senator Schumer\u2019s advocacy, Margaretville Hospital will be able to maintain CAH status, making it eligible for critical reimbursements, and continue to provide vital healthcare and emergency services to patients in rural communities.\u201d\n\nSchumer explained that the CAH program allows smaller rural providers, like those in Delaware County, with the designation to receive greater federal reimbursements for care to keep these otherwise financially vulnerable rural hospitals in the communities that need them most. In 2015, the CMS issued a new policy change without going through the proper notice and rulemaking required by law that would enact more restrictive eligibility definitions for the CAH program, costing rural hospitals millions. Schumer immediately began leading the fight to maintain CAH status for Upstate\u2019s rural hospitals, sending multiple letters highlighting the issue and the impact it would have on rural residents, and personally called HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra to fix this bureaucratic mistake that could cost thousands of rural family\u2019s critical healthcare services. As a result of Schumer\u2019s advocacy, CMS announced earlier this year it would propose to reverse this disastrous policy and clarify the language that would have caused New York\u2019s CAH\u2019s to lose their status, which was finalized this month. The A.O. Fox Hospital Tri-Town Campus in Sidney is a branch of A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital, one of Bassett Healthcare Network\u2019s four area community hospitals that includes CAH-designated O\u2019Connor Hospital.\n\nThe CAH designation was created by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 to give small rural healthcare providers greater financial reimbursement for servicing Medicare and Medicaid patients, as well as provide other resources, in order to keep vulnerable rural hospitals financially stable. One factor for CAH eligibility requires that a hospital be a certain distance from another hospital by either a primary or secondary road and provide around-the-clock emergency services. Previously, CMS regulations stated that a CAH hospital must be at least 35 miles from the nearest hospital by \u201cprimary road\u201d, defined as any road in an interstate system or a US-numbered highway, or at least 15 miles in areas with mountainous terrain or only \u201csecondary roads\u201d, defined to include single lane state routes.\n\nIn 2015, however, CMS issued a memo that changed the definition of primary road to include any road that is in the National Highway System, which would include single lane NYS routes. This significant expansion to language and more restrictive definition of \u201cprimary road,\u201d if enforced, would have led to dozens of CAHs in multiple states, including at least nine in New York, to lose their CAH status and hundreds of millions of dollars of needed funding to keep them in business serving rural patients.\n\nAt the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Schumer fought to get CMS to not enforce this policy change, maintaining this funding stream through the height of the public health emergency, although it remained on the books ready for enforcement. The senator continued to write multiple letters to HHS and CMS demanding for them to change this policy, and personally called HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra to push for these protections for rural hospitals in New York and across America. In July 2022, because of Schumer\u2019s efforts, CMS issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to revise this policy and clarify that single lane NYS interstate routes would not count as primary roads, thereby saving NYS CAH\u2019s from losing their status. The decision to undo the previous ruling that changed the guidelines was finalized this month. The rule reversal is expected to go into effect on January 1, 2023, which will allow current hospitals to maintain their CAH status, and other hospitals, which were previously denied, to reapply for this designation to potentially receive millions in critical reimbursements.\n\nSpecifically, if this change were to have been fully enacted and enforced, it would cost Upstate New York hospitals over $35 million a year. Some of the impacted New York hospitals would have included:\n\nHospital\n\nReimbursement received from CAH program in 2020\n\nCarthage Area Hospital\n\n$9.7M\n\nCommunity Memorial Hospital\n\n$4.1M\n\nEllenville Regional Hospital\n\n$4.7M\n\nGouverneur Hospital\n\n$3.3M\n\nLewis County General Hospital\n\n$5.3M\n\nMargaretville Hospital\n\n$2.4M\n\nO\u2019Connor Hospital\n\n$3M\n\nOrleans Community Health (Medina Memorial)\n\n$1.6M\n\nSoldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital\n\n$1.4M\n\nA copy of Schumer\u2019s original letter to CMS appears below:\n\nDear Administrator Brooks-LaSure:\n\nI write to ask that CMS revise a sub-regulatory guidance issued in 2015 to protect the Critical Access Hospital (CAH) status of more than seventy rural providers nationwide, including nine in New York State. In your March 31, 2022, letter to the Honorable Antonio Delgado regarding this same issue, you indicated that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) would undergo a formal notice and comment rulemaking process to formalize the eligibility criteria for CAH status. Rather than go through a time-intensive rulemaking process, I ask that CMS simply revise Chapter 2 of the State Operations Manual (SOM) to reflect the pre-2015 requirements for CAH eligibility and advise state surveyors not to apply the guidance until the revision is complete.\n\nAs you know, CAHs were created by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 and allow smaller rural providers with the designation to receive greater financial reimbursement for servicing Medicare, Medicaid and Tri-Care patients, access to grant funding and other resources \u2013 all designed to keep otherwise financially vulnerable rural hospitals viable. In order to qualify as a CAH, a hospital must be \u2013 among other qualifications \u2013 a certain distance from another hospital by either a primary or secondary road and provide around-the-clock emergency services. Before June 2015, CMS regulations stated that a CAH hospital must be at least 35 miles from the nearest hospital by \u201cprimary road\u201d, defined as any road in an interstate system or a US-numbered highway, or at least 15 miles in areas with mountainous terrain or only \u201csecondary roads\u201d, defined to include single lane state routes. Alongside New York\u2019s eighteen CAH\u2019s, there are 1,353 CAHs nationwide as of 2021 under these definitions.\n\nHowever, on June 26, 2015, CMS sent a memorandum (S&C: 15-45-CAH) to State Survey Agency Directors, who evaluate CAH eligibilities in each state, advising them of several policy changes regarding CAH status. On page 3 of the memorandum, CMS changes the definition of primary road to include any road that is in the National Highway System, which would include NYS routes that are a part of the System. This expansion of the definition of \u201cprimary road\u201d could result in dozens of CAHs in multiple states, including nine in New York State, not meeting the revised distance requirement. Following the issuance of that first memorandum, CMS included this new definition of the \u201cprimary road\u201d in Chapter 2 of its State Operations Manual, further solidifying this harmful policy change.\n\nIt is very troubling that such a substantial policy change that impacts the care of thousands of rural Americans, was made without going through the proper notice and comment rulemaking procedure. This is a position that CMS has traditionally agreed with. In fact, on October 31, 2019, the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) advised CMS that \u201cany Medicare issuance that establishes or changes a \u2018substantive legal standard\u2019 governing\u2026payment for services\u2026, must go through notice-and-comment-rulemaking.\u201d OGC furnished this guidance in response to adverse litigation against the Secretary in Azar vs. Allina Health Services. According to the standard set in that OGC advisement, expanding the definition of \u201cprimary road\u201d through a memorandum should also constitute a substantive legal standard changed through a sub-regulatory procedure that ought to have been done through notice and-comment rulemaking.\n\nPrior to the start of the public health emergency (PHE) at least one hospital we know of was closed due to the enforcement of this policy change. Thankfully, CMS has not enforced this policy change during the PHE, although it remains on the books ready for enforcement. In your March 31, 2022, letter to the Honorable Antonio Delgado, CMS indicated that the agency has delayed using the 2015 distance criteria for CAH recertification for the duration of the PHE. I am thankful that the agency agrees that it is inappropriate to pull critical funding streams from rural providers while the COVID pandemic continues to place enormous public health and financial strains on these providers. However, I am concerned your letter implies that enforcement of the sub-regulatory guidance may commence at the end of the PHE prior to CMS undergoing rulemaking. I respectfully request that CMS confirm that it will not enforce the current sub-regulatory guidance changing the definition of primary road in its State Operations Manual while the agency considers potential notice and comment rulemaking.\n\nFurther, I request that CMS revise its State Operations Manual to restore the pre-June 26, 2015 definition of \u201cprimary road\u201d. As it stands today, the current policy after the definition change is not enforceable as the post-June 26, 2015, definition of primary road changed a substantive legal standard without being adopted through notice and comment rulemaking.\n\nRestoring the definition of primary road back to the pre-June 26, 2015, language in the State Operations Manual will make clear to State Survey Agency Directors the currently applicable policy that may be enforced when either certifying a new CAH or recertifying an existing CAH. I further ask that CMS provide State Survey Agency Directors with a memorandum analogous to the one on June 26, 2015, advising them of the change to the State Operations Manual and their obligation to apply the pre-June 26 2015 guidance.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-secures-over-76-million-to-construct-brand-new-state-of-the-art-southern-tier-regional-transit-hub-on-seneca-territory-senator-says-transit-and-bus-storage-facility-will-streamline-transportation-increase-accessibility-between-allegany-and-cattaraugus-territories-and-boost-economic-opportunity-across-the-region", "SCHUMER SECURES OVER $7.6 MILLION TO CONSTRUCT BRAND NEW STATE OF THE ART SOUTHERN TIER REGIONAL TRANSIT HUB ON SENECA TERRITORY; SENATOR SAYS TRANSIT AND BUS STORAGE FACILITY WILL STREAMLINE...", "2022-11-23", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Funding Comes From Highly Competitive RAISE Grant That Is Meant To Fund Projects Of Major Regional Significance\n\nSchumer: Seneca Nation Is Now In The Fast Lane For A New One Stop Shop Regional Transit Hub!\n\nU.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced the Seneca Nation will receive $7,625,000 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s highly competitive Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program to develop and construct a Southern Tier Regional Transit Hub. Schumer explained that the project will build a transit facility comprised of a combined transit hub and bus storage facility operated by the Seneca Nation Department of Transportation (SNDOT) and Seneca Transit System (STS) to increase accessibility, streamline bus services, and spur economic growth across the region.\n\n\u201cFor far too long our tribal communities have had to face inadequate public transit options due to a lack of federal assistance. That is why I am proud to deliver this over $7 million investment for the Seneca Nation to create a hub for transit services between the Allegany and Cattaraugus territories and build a more equitable transportation future,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cThe Seneca Nation\u2019s families, businesses, and communities need and deserve a modern, easily accessible transit system, and this major federal investment, in tandem with our major wins from the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law for our tribal communities will pave the way for new economic growth, reconnect residents, create good paying jobs, and drive the future of transportation for the region.\u201d\n\n\u201cAccess to reliable transportation is an important tool in helping to bridge socio-economic gaps that exist for many of our people, which can be particularly challenging in rural communities. Our Seneca Transit System is a vital service that connects Senecas on our Cattaraugus and Allegany Territories to healthcare, employment, commerce, recreation and other needs on our territories and within the greater region. The Sothern Tier Regional Transit Hub, funded by this RAISE grant, will be a transformational addition to that effort,\u201d said Seneca Nation President Rickey Armstrong, Sr. \u201cAs important, this project will serve as a gateway for improved access and connectivity throughout the region, establishing a safe, convenient and efficient link, whether people are traveling to or from Buffalo and Niagara Falls, the Chautauqua region, Cattaraugus County, or our Seneca territories.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the Southern Tier Regional Transit Hub, which will be located on the Cattaraugus Territory, is intended to support the expansion of transit services for the STS and regional partners across the Seneca Nation, from Salamanca to Irving. The transit hub portion of the proposed project will serve as a transfer facility at which riders will be able to connect to buses that provide regional transit services like STS, Chautauqua Area Regional Transit System (CARTS), Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA), and other transit services that bring tourism to the area making it easier for locals and visitors alike to easily travel to other major hubs. The facility will be able to accommodate travelers with additional parking for vehicles and buses and other passenger amenities. The bus storage facility portion will provide an area for interior storage of the buses operated by the STS on a daily basis and Schumer said it will help streamline the Seneca Nation's public transit services by increasing accessibility for residents and giving STS the one stop hub they need to keep transit running smoothly. This, Schumer explained, will allow residents of Salamanca and the Allegany Territory better transit access to the Buffalo metro area.\n\nSchumer has a long history of helping to deliver robust federal funding to New York\u2019s tribal communities. The Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law included $13 billion to support Tribal communities over five years, including nearly $3 billion for the formula Tribal Transportation Program\u2014and an estimated $5.9 million in formula funding over five years for the Seneca Nation of Indians, an $875 million Tribal set-aside for the Bridge Formula Program and a $200 million Tribal set-aside for the competitive Bridge Investment Program, $2.5 billion for charging and fueling infrastructure, and $230 million for the Public Transportation on Indian Reservations program. In the Inflation Reduction Act, Schumer supported Tribal energy development by investing in the Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program, and increasing loan guarantees for Tribal energy development from $2 billion to $20 billion. The Inflation Reduction Act also included investments for a Tribal Electrification Program specifically for Tribes and Tribal organizations to provide electricity to unelectrified Tribal homes through zero-emission energy systems, and to transition electrified homes to zero-emission energy systems.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/with-respiratory-viruses-skyrocketing-in-central-ny-children-nearly-double-the-rsv-cases-at-oneida-health-hospital-compared-to-last-year-and-1000-cases-at-suny-upstate-since-start-of-november-schumer-calls-on-feds-to-launch-nationwide-action-plan-to-protect-ny-children-keep-our-hospitals-prepared-and-combat-rsv-before-its-too-late-", "WITH RESPIRATORY VIRUSES SKYROCKETING IN CENTRAL NY CHILDREN, NEARLY DOUBLE THE RSV CASES AT ONEIDA HEALTH HOSPITAL COMPARED TO LAST YEAR AND 1,000+ CASES AT SUNY UPSTATE SINCE START OF NOVEMBER,...", "2022-11-23", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV), Has Been Reaching Unprecedented Levels In Hospitals Nationwide At Nearly 7x The Weekly Rate Pre-Covid, According To The CDC; SUNY Upstate Health Center Has Already Recorded 3X More RSV Cases This Year Putting Their Emergency Room Over Capacity At 136% Capacity\n\nRSV Can Be Serious For Young Children And The Elderly\u2014Madison County\u2019s Oneida Health Hospital Positive RSV Cases Have Nearly Doubled Compared To Last Year\u2014With 80% Of Cases Are Children Under 5 Years Old; Onondaga County\u2019s SUNY Upstate Had Over 1,000 RSV Cases Since November Alone\n\nSchumer: RSV Is On The Rise, And Feds Need To Step Up To Help Upstate Hospitals\n\nStanding at Oneida Health Hospital as Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV) cases surge in children across Central New York, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today launched a major new push to increase federal support for Upstate hospitals strained by the dramatic increase in RSV cases.\n\nOneida Health Hospital\u2019s positive RSV cases have already nearly doubled compared to last year \u2013 with 80% of cases being children under 5 years old. At nearby Golisano Children\u2019s Hospital in Syracuse, they have so many RSV patients that it has run out of beds, and they are forced to send kids to hospitals in other cities. Flanked by pediatricians on the frontlines, Schumer said the spiking levels of RSV with growing flu rates warrants immediately federal action, and called for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to be ready to act at a moment\u2019s notice to provide whatever support upstate hospitals need. Schumer reported that the federal government has unique authority to help, with the power to support temporary structures, surge staffing if there are not enough pediatricians available, moving patients across states lines, credentialing out of state providers, enhancing the use of telehealth, coordinating medical supply chains and more.\n\n\u201cCentral New York hospitals are facing an unprecedented surge in RSV cases among children, and public health experts all say it is only going to get worse as we enter the cold winter months. Normally, RSV cases start to grow in October and November before peaking in December and January. It is outright scary given that hospitals are already struggling to keep up, and it\u2019s possible the worst is yet to come. As a grandfather to two young children, there is nothing more terrifying than the thought of them getting sick, and all across CNY parents are facing hospitals who are pushed to the brink, with increased wait times, full beds, all while their child is struggling to breathe because of RSV,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cHospitals are doing their best on the frontlines, but the feds need to step up with a comprehensive plan to respond to this major spike and be ready for it to get worse. The feds have a unique ability to get more doctors and supplies where it\u2019s needed, and they need to be prepared to do so. Nobody really knows what will come next, and if an Upstate hospital says they need something, the feds need to be able to say \u2018help is on the way right now.\u2019 Hospitals cannot afford to wait.\u201d\n\n\"Thank you to Senator Schumer for shining light on the challenges we are facing with the current surge of multiple respiratory viruses in Central New York. The simultaneous circulation of RSV, flu, and COVID is driving far higher levels of respiratory illnesses than we have seen for many years. The current RSV surge in children is straining our pediatric clinics and hospitals, and there is no readily-available antiviral or vaccine for RSV. Thankfully, there are vaccines for flu and COVID, which work well against the currently-circulating strains of flu and Omicron and can help prevent hospitalization and death. We strongly urge Central New Yorkers to get their flu vaccines and updated COVID booster to protect themselves, their families, and our healthcare systems as we head into the holiday season,\" said Dr. Kathryn Anderson, Onondaga County Health Commissioner.\n\n\u201cAs the only dedicated pediatric facility for the central third of New York State, SUNY Upstate Golisano Children\u2019s Hospital is converting other units at Upstate University Hospital to accommodate the unprecedented surge of children with serious RSV infections,\u201d said Upstate President Mantosh Dewan, MD. \u201cWe\u2019re also collaborating closely with other hospitals and family physicians across the region to ensure both kids and adults with less serious cases of RSV receive care in the most appropriate settings, whether at home or in their local community hospital. We deeply appreciate Senator Schumer\u2019s leadership and partnership in addressing this significant public health priority.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, Schumer said that he is calling for HHS to be ready and, if requested by hospitals, use its unique authority to help. Tools at HHS\u2019 disposal includes the power to support temporary structures like screening tents, surge staffing if there are not enough pediatricians available, moving patients across states lines, credentialing out of state providers, enhancing the use of telehealth, coordinating medical supply chains and more.\n\nRSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Schumer said that while most adults recover in a week or two, RSV can be very serious, especially for young children and older adults. RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia (infection of the lungs) in children younger than 1 year of age in the United States. SUNY Upstate Health Center has already recorded 3 times more RSV cases this year compared to years previous. In 2022, SUNY Upstate has recorded a total of 1,800 total RSV cases with nearly 1,000 positive tests just in November alone. The uptick in RSV cases has contributed to a spike in Upstate Health Center\u2019s average daily pediatric Emergency Department volume, from 92% in August to 136% in November. In 2022, Oneida Health has recorded a total of 224 cases, with 40% of cases being in November alone- nearly double compared to last year.\n\nLast week, the Children\u2019s Hospital Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics warned of \u201cunprecedented levels\u201d of RSV combined with increasing flu circulation are pushing many hospitals to the breaking point. Since the start of November, Oneida Health Hospital has recorded at least 66 positive RSV tests, which outpaces the number of positive COVID tests and positive Flu tests recorded over the same period. Elsewhere in the region, SUNY Upstate Health Center has already recorded over 3X more RSV cases this year compared to previous. Of the 1,824 total RSV in recorded by SUNY Upstate this year, 1,606 positive RSV tests were recorded in just the months of October and November with nearly 1,000 positive tests in November alone. The uptick in RSV cases has contributed to a spike in Upstate Health Center\u2019s average daily pediatric Emergency Department volume, from 92% in August to 136% in November. SUNY Upstate Golisano Children\u2019s Hospital is the only children\u2019s hospital serving 19 counties across CNY. This major strain also comes as flu cases also are spiking across New York State, placing further strain on the health system. Infants 6 months and younger are getting hospitalized with RSV at more than seven times the weekly rate observed before the Covid-19 pandemic, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-reveals-issue-of-double-taxing-for-suffolk-septic-grants-sees-success-with-usda-agreeing-liers-should-not-get-a-tax-bill-senator-announces-push-to-get-irs-to-do-same-li-homeowners-who-help-reduce-nitrogen-pollution-should-not-be-taxed-they-should-be-thanked", "SCHUMER REVEALS: ISSUE OF \u2018DOUBLE TAXING\u2019 FOR SUFFOLK SEPTIC GRANTS SEES SUCCESS WITH USDA AGREEING LI\u2019ERS SHOULD NOT GET A TAX BILL; SENATOR ANNOUNCES PUSH TO GET IRS TO DO SAME; LI HOMEOWNERS WHO...", "2022-11-22", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Schumer Reveals That After Pushing For Months, USDA Has Agreed With His Stance That Suffolk\u2019s Septic Improvement Program (SIP) Grants Protect & Restore The Environment & Should Be Excluded From Taxable Income\n\nBUT NOW, The Treasury Department & IRS Have To Agree To Make It Official; LI\u2019ers Who Have Participated Have Owed Money, Been Forced Up Tax Brackets, & Experienced Other Penalties That Have Undermined Suffolk-Administered Effort We Should INCENTIVIZE To Reduce Nitrogen On The Island\n\nSchumer: USDA Has Just Done Right By Suffolk & Now IRS Should Be Next, So Suffolk Enviro Efforts Can Be A Success\n\nStanding alongside Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone, advocates, and homeowners, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer revealed new progress has been made in the fight to fix the \u2018double taxing\u2019 problem plaguing homeowners who participate in the County\u2019s Septic Improvement Program. Schumer announced that the USDA heeded his call and agreed with him and Long Island stakeholders that the grants SHOULD be tax exempt. Schumer, today, is now saying that the IRS must finish the job, also agree and allow the Suffolk environmental efforts to succeed.\n\n\u201cWe are here today with some good news: after my pushing, the USDA has informed me that septic grants across Suffolk should be tax exempt. However, we are also here to make a new push to get the IRS to essentially agree and remedy the issue of double taxing and the septic improvement program once and for all,\u201d said U.S. Senator Charles Schumer. \u201cAgain, it\u2019s not the septic systems that are clogging up progress here in Suffolk, it\u2019s the federal bureaucracy, and we are here to support homeowners who are doing their part to help reduce nitrogen pollution and prevent them from being \u2018double taxed.\u2019 Look, when something is a win for homeowners and Long Island\u2019s environment, the feds should do all they can to make it work, and that is why I am calling on the IRS to do what the USDA just did and green light the SIP\u2019s tax exemption and accept their determination.\u201d\n\nThe Suffolk Septic Improvement Program (SIP) replaces outdated and environmentally-damaging residential cesspools and septic systems with nitrogen-reducing ones. The program has attracted rightful interest of homeowners, but now many participating homeowners have faced financial ramifications and others are not participating because of confusion and worry tied directly to their pockets \u2014 they\u2019ll likely be taxed for utilizing the grants. A homeowner who received $20,000 in grant funding to upgrade her septic system (to the benefit of Long Island) spoke about her bill and Schumer detailed the latest numbers that show more than\u2014potentially thousands\u2014of other homeowners could benefit if the IRS heeds the call and accepts the USDA determination.\n\nSchumer detailed, as of today, the County has received 3,583 applications and there have been 1,277 installations of Innovative/Alternative Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (I/A OWTS). Schumer also explained how, Cindy Krezel, the host of the event today, was pushed into a higher tax bracket because this money was counted as income. She says she received a much lower COVID relief Economic Impact Payment because of this dilemma, too.\n\nSchumer said the County\u2019s Septic Improvement Program has significant environmental benefits and that the IRS had made a bad call when it decided to include homeowner septic grants as income, which Schumer has railed against before. Schumer, today, said there is new hope, however, via a USDA decision. He announced that the USDA just ruled, after his heeding, that these grants and this program is a benefit to the environment, which is both true and helpful because if the IRS agrees, it would mean the grant funds can be excluded from income.\n\nThe USDA is now \u201c\u2026providing public notice that the Secretary of Agriculture has determined that cost share payments made by the New York Suffolk County SIP are primarily for the purpose of conserving soil and water resources or protecting and restoring the environment. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) was assigned technical and administrative responsibility for reviewing the New York Suffolk County SIP and for making appropriate recommendations for the Secretary's determination of primary purpose. The Secretary's determination permits recipients of cost share payments to exclude such payments from gross income to the extent allowed by the Internal Revenue Service.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is a huge win,\u201d added Schumer. \u201cIt shows the squeaky wheel gets the grease, so we are here today with a few more squeaks for the IRS so they can seal the deal for Long Island homeowners, and prevent them from having to dig into their own pockets to do something good and expensive.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur septic improvement program is critical to protecting and improving our water quality on Long Island,\u201d said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone. \"Today\u2019s announcement is a major win for both Suffolk County taxpayers and our environment. I would like to thank Senator Schumer for his continued efforts to stop the double taxation of our residents, who are doing the right thing for Long Island's water quality.\"\n\n\u201cThe Nature Conservancy commends Majority Leader Schumer for his dedication to bringing clean water back to Long Island. Restoring our bays and harbors requires all levels of government working together for its citizens. We thank Senator Schumer, Secretary Vilsack, and County Executive Bellone for their tireless work to ensure local homeowners are not penalized for replacing a polluting septic system with a clean water system,\u201d said Greg Jacob, The Nature Conservancy\u2019s New York Senior Policy Advisor. \u201cNitrogen pollution from antiquated septic systems hurts wildlife, closes beaches, and endangers our economy, health, and way of life. Ensuring homeowners do not have to pay taxes on a government grant is a critical step towards a clean water future for Long Island. The Nature Conservancy looks forward to continuing to support and advance these critical conservation investments throughout New York and across the nation.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is imperative that this highly problematic tax issue is resolved expeditiously. This historic grant program was crafted to help hard working homeowners replace aging septic and cesspools with new systems that protect our drinking and coastal water. This program is intended to protect our health, restore our bays and estuaries, and preserve out maritime heritage. Taxing grants that provide critical, meaningful societal benefits creates a substantial obstacle to the success of this program and threatens the very sustainability of Long Island. We are delighted to have Senator Schumer champion this issue and help rectify this detrimental and unwarranted tax,\u201d said Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment.\n\nSchumer\u2019s original USDA letter appears below.\n\nDear Secretary Vilsack,\n\nI write today urging a swift review and approval of Suffolk County\u2019s request for a determination that the County\u2019s Septic Improvement Program\u2019s (SIP) grants are made primarily for the purpose of conserving soil and water resources and protecting or restoring the environment, and thus excluded from a participant\u2019s taxable income.\n\nSuffolk County was rapidly developed as one of the first suburbs in the country after World War II. It is one of New York\u2019s most populous counties and has over 350,000 unsewered homes relying on onsite wastewater disposal systems, including outdated cesspools and septic systems to contain or treat waste. These aging disposal systems discharge high quantities of nitrogen into the surrounding environment, adversely impacting soil health and surface waters. Nitrogen pollution triggers algae growth in Long Island\u2019s ponds and lakes and causes brown, red, and rust tides in its bays and estuaries, killing aquatic life, degrading marshland that protects coastal communities from storm surge, and making local seafood poisonous for human consumption, among myriad other adverse effects. The nitrogen discharge is also concerning because the majority of Suffolk\u2019s population is entirely dependent on Long Island\u2019s underlying sole-source aquifer system.\n\nIn 2017, Suffolk County developed the landmark and award-winning Septic Improvement Program (SIP) to encourage residents to upgrade their wastewater disposal systems in an effort to reduce nitrogen pollution. The program provides grants to homeowners who choose to replace outdated cesspools and septic systems with new state-of-the-art nitrogen-reducing technology. To streamline participation, grants are disbursed directly to installation contractors who pay taxes on the funds as business income. Homeowners participating in the program never receive grant funds. Even so, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) currently considers the grants taxable income, increasing participating homeowners\u2019 tax liability. Some participating homeowners saw their income taxes increase by as much as $8,000, while many others chose not to participate in the SIP program due to potential tax liability. In addition, homeowners have experienced negative impacts due to increased tax liability, including being forced into higher tax brackets, making Social Security benefits taxable, jeopardizing senior citizen property tax exemptions, reducing college financial aid amounts for children of grant recipients, and increasing family health insurance premiums. Needless to say, the success of this critical environmental improvement program, and the livelihoods of current and future participants, are being hampered by the undue tax liability.\n\nSection 126 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended (26 U.S.C. Section 126), provides that certain payments made to persons under conservation programs may be excluded from the recipient\u2019s gross income for Federal income tax purposes, in part, through a determination by the Secretary of Agriculture. In 2021 Suffolk County began engaging with USDA requesting such a determination. It is my belief that the SIP meets the natural resource conservation purposes outlined in the Section 126 criteria for income tax exemptions. It is also my understanding that the State Conservationist in the Natural Resources Conservation Service\u2019s (NRCS) New York office wrote to USDA headquarters laying out his opinion that the SIP \u201cmeets the three applicable criteria for exemption of federal taxation.\u201d I hope that Suffolk County\u2019s request for a positive determination can be swiftly approved.\n\nI look forward to working with you to further protect New York\u2019s soil and water resources, overall environment, and public health, and appreciate your attention to this important matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\nU.S. Senator Charles Schumer", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://clarke.house.gov/congresswoman-clarke-issues-statement-on-speaker-pelosis-decision-to-withdraw-from-democratic-house-leadership/", "CONGRESSWOMAN CLARKE ISSUES STATEMENT ON SPEAKER PELOSI\u2019S DECISION TO WITHDRAW FROM DEMOCRATIC HOUSE LEADERSHIP", "2022-11-21", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Yvette D. Clarke", "C001067", "clarke.house.gov", "clarke", "https://clarke.house.gov/category/press-release/", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:\n\nNovember 18, 2022\n\nMEDIA CONTACT:\n\ne: clarke.comms@mail.house.gov\n\nc: 347.387.5123\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) issued the following statement regarding Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi\u2019s decision to step down from Democratic House leadership in the 118th Congress:\n\n\u201cWhat is there to say of the immaculate record, character, and spirit of our great Speaker of the House, the honorable and incomparable Nancy Pelosi, that has yet to be said? Throughout her 35 years of service in the House of Representatives and seven years as America\u2019s first and only female Speaker of the House, Speaker Pelosi persisted as a proud advocate for change and a compassionate champion of the most underserved and neglected peoples of our nation and world. From the revolutionary healthcare reform within the Affordable Care Act, to the vital provisions of the American Rescue Plan, to her impossibly courageous stance as democracy\u2019s last line of defense against brutal seditionists, Speaker Pelosi never failed to fight for the nation she holds so dearly to her heart. Indeed, Speaker Pelosi\u2019s name is indelibly entwined with her many profound achievements and triumphs. Make no mistake: history will never forget that when men sat and waited, Nancy Pelosi stood and led,\u201d said Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke. \u201cToday, our republic is forever colder without the guiding light of her leadership. And though the moment is soon upon us where our country will once again know her as Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, know she will always be my Speaker,\u201d\n\n###\n\nYvette D. Clarke has been in Congress since 2007. She represents New York\u2019s Ninth Congressional District, which includes Central and South Brooklyn. Clarke is a Senior Member of both the House Energy and Commerce Committee and House Committee on Homeland Security, where she serves as Chair of the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation Subcommittee.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://espaillat.house.gov/media/press-releases/espaillat-gillibrand-introduce-resilient-transit-act", "Espaillat, Gillibrand Introduce the Resilient Transit Act", "2022-11-21", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Adriano Espaillat", "E000297", "espaillat.house.gov", "espaillat", "https://espaillat.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced legislation that would provide the first-ever dedicated stream of resiliency funding for our nation\u2019s public transportation systems.\n\nThe Resilient Transit Act of 2022 would authorize $300 million for each fiscal year from 2023 through 2026 for resilience improvement grants to mitigate the impact of severe weather events on public transportation systems. The apportionment of funds would be in accordance with the existing State of Good Repair formula and recipients would be able to utilize these critical resources to finance both stand-alone resilience projects and resilience components of larger system improvement projects as needed.\n\n\u201cAs we see extreme weather events and climate change heavily impact the lifecycle of public transportation, we must act to ensure the integrity of these systems, the protection of vulnerable communities, and the investments of taxpayer dollars,\u201d said Rep. Espaillat. \u201cMany Americans rely on public transit as their primary means of transportation, and when these systems are disrupted by extreme weather events, their ability to commute is hampered or even removed. In 2012, Hurricane Sandy flooded much of New York City, including the subway system, rendering tracks unusable. Whereas, measures have been taken to reduce this risk, more can still be done. Our legislation aims to bolster federal funding to increase resiliency of transit systems so communities will be ready when these unforeseen disasters occur.\u201d\n\n\"Ten years ago, Superstorm Sandy crippled the New York City subway, leaving millions without a reliable way to get around,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cWe\u2019ve all seen videos of water cascading down subway stairs and commuters wading through stations with water up to their waist; we can't wait until the next devastating storm to fix the weaknesses in our transit system that these storms have exposed. The Resilient Transit Act will help the MTA and transit agencies across the country make proactive upgrades to subways, trains, buses, and ferries so that they can prepare for future severe weather events and natural disasters and continue to provide the services millions rely on each day. Americans deserve transit systems that can weather any storm, and this bill will take us one step closer to making that a reality.\u201d\n\nThe Resilient Transit Act of 2022 would provide direct resiliency funding for public transportation systems to help reduce the vulnerability of transit systems before emergencies, natural disasters, and climate-related events occur.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://espaillat.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-adriano-espaillat-seeks-public-suggestions-songs-latino-artists", "REPRESENTATIVE ADRIANO ESPAILLAT SEEKS PUBLIC SUGGESTIONS FOR SONGS FROM LATINO ARTISTS TO NOMINATE FOR NATIONAL RECORDING REGISTRY", "2022-11-21", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Adriano Espaillat", "E000297", "espaillat.house.gov", "espaillat", "https://espaillat.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Members of the public can submit songs directly to the Library of Congress. Visit here to submit your nomination today.\n\nNEW YORK, NY --Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) are requesting public submissions for songs from Latino artists that should be inducted in the National Recording Registry. The National Recording Registry is a federal archive managed by the Library of Congress that works to preserve sounds with cultural and historical significance to the United States.\n\n\u201cFor generations, songs from Latino artists have formed the soundtrack to American life. As the Library of Congress works to enshrine the great sounds of the United States in our nation\u2019s historical record, public nominations to the National Recording Registry will shine a spotlight on the Latino artists who have left an indelible mark on our nation. I strongly encourage all members of the public to submit their nominations by November 26, 2022, by visiting the Congressional Hispanic Caucus's National Recording Registry Nominations page,\u201d said Rep. Espaillat.\n\nTo qualify for nomination, songs must be at least ten years old. Songs must be submitted to online by November 26, 2022. Please check the National Recording Registry to avoid submitting duplicates.\n\nMembers of the public can also submit songs directly to the Library of Congress here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3740", "Tonko Heralds House Passage of Manufacturing.gov Act", "2022-11-18", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Paul Tonko", "T000469", "tonko.house.gov", "tonko", "https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014Congressman Paul D. Tonko cheered the advance of his bipartisan bill H.R. 6290, the Manufacturing.gov Act out of the House yesterday. The legislation would establish a one-stop hub to connect manufacturers with federal manufacturing programs.\n\n\u201cThis year has been historic for American manufacturers, with promising growth in this vital industry spurred by strong federal investments that will continue to deliver positive results for our region and nation,\u201d Congressman Tonko said. \u201cI\u2019m thrilled by the advance of the Manufacturing.gov Act that will build off of our CHIPS and Science Act by making federal programs and resources more accessible to manufacturers, giving them the tools they need to drive economic growth. I\u2019ll continue pushing for key investments that strengthen American manufacturing and support our middle-class workers who power our nation\u2019s industry.\u201d\n\nTonko introduced the Manufacturing.gov Act last year alongside Representatives Fred Upton (MI-6), and Cindy Axne (IA-03). U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Todd Young (R-IN) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced the Senate bill, which was passed in October 2021. The bill addresses a Government Accountability Office report that found the federal government maintains 58 different manufacturing programs across 11 federal agencies\u2014creating unnecessary hurdles and making it more difficult for manufacturers to access these programs.\n\nIn July 2022, Tonko cheered the advance of the CHIPS and Science Act, legislation that invests $52 billion in semiconductor chip manufacturing to strengthen domestic supply chains and lower costs for Americans, and also includes the Congressman\u2019s bipartisan Microelectronics Research for Energy Innovation Act that empowers the Department of Energy to drive up research and development of microelectronics.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/as-schumers-first-major-act-as-majority-leader-he-secured-fix-so-union-members-who-worked-their-whole-lives-but-risked-losing-payments-through-no-fault-of-their-own-got-pensions_-now-ny-teamsters-receive-first-payout-from-american-rescue-plan-helping-union-families-breathe-massive-sigh-of-relief-with-960m-in-pensions-restored-and-backpay-for-benefits-", "AS SCHUMER\u2019S FIRST MAJOR ACT AS MAJORITY LEADER, HE SECURED FIX SO UNION MEMBERS, WHO WORKED THEIR WHOLE LIVES BUT RISKED LOSING PAYMENTS THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, GOT PENSIONS - NOW NY TEAMSTERS...", "2022-11-18", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Over 33,000+ NY Teamsters Families Were Victims Of A Pension System That Collapsed On Itself After 2008 Crash; Without Action, Many Could Not Retire Or Would Have Little Benefits Remaining- But Schumer Promised To Restore Their Hard-Earned Pensions And Give Union Families The Relief They Needed\n\nAfter Years Of Fighting, In Schumer\u2019s First Major Bill As Majority Leader, The American Rescue Plan, The Senator Secured The Critical Fix To Multiemployer Pension Plans To Give Teamsters The Benefits They Earned\n\nNow Local Unions From Long Island, Buffalo, Rochester, Albany, Syracuse , Utica, Binghamton And Beyond Will Get Payout To Restore Lost Funds So Members Can Lead Quality Lives In Retirement AND Get Back Pay For Those Who Had Benefits Cut\n\nSchumer: Restoring FULL Pensions For Tens of Thousands of Union Workers Will Give These Families The Desperately-Needed Economic Security They Rightfully Earned\n\nU.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced that, after years of advocacy to secure relief for ailing multiemployer pension plans for union workers, New York Teamsters will receive a pension-fix payout from the American Rescue Plan \u2014 at over $960 million for more than 33,000 union beneficiaries and their families across Upstate New York, Long Island, and New York City.\n\n\u201cTeamsters and their families who rely on these plans could have lost the benefits they earned over a lifetime of work, through no fault of their own \u2014 putting their financial security, retirements, and families futures at risk. I stood shoulder to shoulder with our union workers and promised them if I became majority leader, I would not stop fighting till they got the relief they needed and to keep their hard-earned pensions and benefits, and today I can finally say a promise made is a promise kept to the tune of over $960 million for over 33,000 Teamsters across New York State,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cOne of the pillars of the middle-class is being able to retire with dignity, and being able to support you and your family, and thousands of New York Teamsters who for too long lived in fear, can now breathe a sigh of relief. The American Rescue Plan provided the most significant effort to protect the solvency of the multiemployer pension system in almost 50 years \u2013 and it is now delivering almost a billion dollars in benefits directly to hard working New Yorkers. New York has been, and always will be a union town \u2013 from Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany to Long Island \u2013 and that is why I will always stand with our Teamsters brothers and sisters and I am proud to deliver the benefits and back pay they deserve and earned. \u201d\n\nPresident of Teamsters Joint Council 18 and President of Teamsters Local 294 John Bulgaro said, \u201cChuck Schumer got it done for Teamsters, and now our members will finally have the hard earned pensions and benefits they deserve. This is life changing for Teamster brothers and sisters across New York. After 2008, there were gut wrenching stories of workers who put money in every week to their pension only to see it disappear overnight. They said nothing could be done, but Senator Schumer said he\u2019d fight for us, he stood by us every step of the way, and he delivered and got a better deal for Teamsters. Now active Teamsters working towards a pension will be made whole and our retirees can lead a good life with the pensions and benefits they earned and deserved.\u201c\n\nSchumer explained that after the 2008 financial crash, many union workers\u2019 in multiemployer pension plans were in danger of collapse due to out-of-control speculation on Wall Street. Multiemployer plans are created through agreements between employers and a union, with plans typically involving multiple employers in a single industry or related industries. Countless families and workers faced the prospect of losing out on retirement savings \u2013 through no fault of their own. Senator Schumer fought to include the Butch Lewis Act in the American Rescue Plan \u2013 securing pension solvency in his very first major bill as majority leader. Before the American Rescue Plan over 200 multiemployer plans were on pace to become insolvent in the near term, risking benefits for millions of workers and their families.\n\nThe law created the Special Financial Assistance program administered by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) to protect benefits for millions of workers, reverse harsh pension cuts, and put existing plans on a path to solvency through 2051. Today, thanks to Schumer\u2019s dogged advocacy, over 33,000 NY Teamsters from every corner of New York will have over $960 million dollars in benefits restored. The bailout includes benefit restoration for beneficiaries whose payments have already been cut, meaning some members will be eligible for back pay from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.\n\nOf the over 33,000 beneficiaries, Teamsters can be found in local branches that represent nearly every corner of the Empire State, including:\n\nLocal Union 118 - Rochester\n\nLocal Union 264 - Cheektowaga\n\nLocal Union 294 \u2013 Albany-Utica\n\nLocal Union 317 \u2013 Syracuse-Binghamton\n\nLocal Union 449 \u2013 Buffalo\n\nLocal Union 687 \u2013 Potsdam\n\nLocal Union 812 \u2013 Great Neck\n\nLocal Union 560 -- Union City, NJ\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-announces-the-appointment-of-upstate-new-yorks-very-own-natalie-merchant-singer-songwriter-to-the-american-folklife-center-board-of-trustees", "SCHUMER ANNOUNCES THE APPOINTMENT OF UPSTATE NEW YORK\u2019S VERY OWN NATALIE MERCHANT, SINGER-SONGWRITER, TO THE AMERICAN FOLKLIFE CENTER BOARD OF TRUSTEES", "2022-11-18", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Schumer Says Natalie Merchant, A Jamestown Native And Current Hudson Valley Resident, Has Had A Profound Influence On The American Music\n\nAs Board Member Of The Library Of Congress\u2019s American Folklife Center, Natalie Will Aid The Policy Direction And Ongoing Preservation Of The Nation\u2019s Folklife And Culture\n\nSchumer To Natalie: 'You've been so kind and generous' And Your Contributions Will Help Conserve America\u2019s Music And Folk History For Generations To Come!\n\nU.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced his appointment of singer-songwriter, Natalie Merchant, to the Library of Congress\u2019s American Folklife Center Board of Trustees to support the ongoing preservation and promotion of one of the nation\u2019s most important treasures, it\u2019s rich folklore, cultural traditions, music, and arts, and aide in the long-term planning and policy direction of the center.\n\n\u201cNatalie Merchant, has been an important singer-songwriter for decades, both as a solo artist and as former lead singer of 10,000 Maniacs. Raised in Jamestown and now a resident of the Hudson Valley, she has had a profound impact on American music culture and has an invaluable perspective for American folk tradition. She is the working heir to the legacy of Billie Holiday, Odetta, Pete Seeger and Levon Helm. That is why I am proud to appoint Upstate New York\u2019s own Natalie Merchant to the Library of Congress\u2019s American Folklife Center Board of Trustees,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cShe\u2019ll make her way and provide important contributions to the board\u2019s ongoing policy for the hub of American folklife. Natalie \u2013 you\u2019ve been so kind and generous - and your service will help preserve our nation\u2019s most important cultural treasures for generations to come.\u201d\n\nNatalie Merchant said, \u201cIt\u2019s such an honor to be selected to serve on the Folklife Center board. I\u2019ve admired the work of this agency for many years and hope to find some way to help further their mission of preserving and promoting all forms of folk arts in America.\u201d\n\nAbout the American Folklife Center\n\nThe American Folklife Center was created in 1976 by the U.S. Congress to \"preserve and present American folklife\" through programs of research, documentation, archival preservation, reference service, live performance, exhibitions, publications, and training. Designated by the U.S. Congress as the national center for folklife documentation and research, the American Folklife Center continues to collect and document living traditional culture, while preserving for the future its unparalleled collections in the state-of-the-art preservation facilities of the Library of Congress.\n\nThe American Folklife Center Archive, established in the Library of Congress Music Division in 1928, is now one of the largest archives of ethnographic materials from the United States and around the world, encompassing millions of items of ethnographic and historical documentation recorded from the nineteenth century to the present. These collections, which include extensive audiovisual documentation of traditional arts, cultural expressions, and oral histories, offer researchers access to the songs, stories, and other creative expressions of people from diverse communities.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3739", "Tonko Statement on Speaker Pelosi", "2022-11-17", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Paul Tonko", "T000469", "tonko.house.gov", "tonko", "https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014Congressman Paul D. Tonko today released a statement following Speaker Pelosi\u2019s decision to step down from leadership in the House of Representatives:\n\n\u201cSpeaker Pelosi has long led our party with immeasurable dignity, compassion, intelligence, and strength of spirit. She stands as a trailblazer in so many ways. From her election three and a half decades ago, to becoming the first woman to serve as Speaker in the House, to spearheading the passage of unprecedented legislation this session, I believe that history will mark her as one of the most effective, consequential speakers in American history.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://espaillat.house.gov/media/press-releases/espaillat-congressional-hispanic-caucus-chc-send-letter-requesting-department", "Espaillat, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Send Letter Requesting that the Department of the Air Force (DAF) Conduct an Internal Review Regarding Latino Diversity", "2022-11-16", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Adriano Espaillat", "E000297", "espaillat.house.gov", "espaillat", "https://espaillat.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) sent a letter to Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall requesting an internal review to identify barriers holding Latino officers from rising to the senior ranks of general officer. The CHC also requested that the Department of the Air Force (DAF) provide recommendations and action steps to address identified Latino disparities in the DAF.\n\nThe letter can be found here. Members issued the following statements:\n\n\u201cWe must tackle the systemic challenges that impact Latino Representation in the Air Force. By studying the factors that contribute to low numbers of Hispanics in leadership ranks, we will pave a path toward a more diverse and inclusive military that can confront the unprecedented challenges facing our nation at home and abroad,\u201d said Chair Dr. Raul Ruiz.\n\n\u201cLatinos represent 17% of active-duty service members in the U.S. military, and as we recently recognized Veterans Day, we honor the service of those who have worn our nation\u2019s uniform with honor, patriotism, and bravery to defend Democracy here at home and around the world,\u201d said Rep. Adriano Espaillat, CHC Vice Chair of Diversity and Inclusion. \u201cThere are currently more than eight million Latino veterans, yet the numbers are dismal when considering the level of representation in leadership roles, particularly within the U.S. Air Force. We are calling for in-depth internal review to identify and dismantle barriers preventing Latino service members from rising to leadership positions. We owe it to the next generation of Latino service members to ensure they have a fair and equal opportunity to represent the nation at all levels of the U.S. military, including senior leadership roles within the Armed Forces.\u201d\n\n\u201cLatinos, like many minorities, face overwhelming systemic barriers on their way to leadership positions in the workforce,\u201d said CHC Whip Rep. Sylvia Garcia. \u201cAs a Member who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, I\u2019m deeply saddened Latinos are also underrepresented in senior ranks across the Air Force and Armed Forces. The U.S. Military must reflect our nation\u2019s increasing diversity \u2013 especially in key leadership positions. I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in urging Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall to conduct a study to identify existing barriers. This will help Congress develop and pass appropriate legislation to address underrepresentation in our nation\u2019s military.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a veteran of the Marine Corps, I know firsthand the value of diversity in our ranks and in the leadership of our military. Our Armed Forces bring together people from all backgrounds to make cohesive and effective units to guard our nation and its interests. But that cohesion is threatened if our ranks and hierarches do not reflect the nation that they defend,\u201d said Rep. Salud Carbajal. \u201cEliminating inequities of opportunity and representation in our Air Force and other branches will help ensure that every servicemember knows that their unit, their branch, and their country has their back when embarking on missions to protect our nation and its citizens.\u201d\n\n\"Hispanic servicemembers are invaluable to our armed forces,\u201d said Rep. Veronica Escobar. \u201cYet the fact that they only make up 2.6% of leadership in the U.S. Air Force is extremely disappointing. As we wait to review the data from the military\u2019s FY22 NDAA study on Hispanic servicemembers and how each branch promotes Hispanic officers, we must evaluate why our efforts to increase diversity have not demonstrated results so far. I'm proud to join my CHC colleagues in calling for recommendations and actionable steps to implement to address these disparities.\"\n\n\"America deserves an Air Force that reflects the rich diversity of the country it serves,\" said Rep. Ruben Gallego. \"The Department of Defense has made progress in the last several years, but there is still a lot of work to do. I'm proud to join my colleagues today to call for greater Hispanic representation in the senior officer ranks of the Air Force, and I am looking forward to hearing back from Secretary Kendall on his plan to address the barriers preventing Latino servicemembers from rising in the ranks.\u201d\n\n###\n\nThe Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), founded in December 1976, is organized as a Congressional Member organization, governed under the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives. The CHC is dedicated to voicing and advancing, through the legislative process, issues affecting Hispanics in the United States, Puerto Rico and U.S. Territories.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://espaillat.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-adriano-espaillat-honors-life-and-legacy-reverend-dr-calvin-o", "Representative Adriano Espaillat Honors the Life and Legacy of Reverend Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III, Pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church", "2022-11-16", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Adriano Espaillat", "E000297", "espaillat.house.gov", "espaillat", "https://espaillat.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Watch Espaillat Deliver Remarks on Floor of the U.S. House of Representatives today at 2:00PM (ET)\n\nWASHINGTON, DC -- Today, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) will speak on the floor of the United States House of Representatives to honor the life and impact of Reverend Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III, pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church of Harlem.\n\nWatch live on CSPAN.org. The following are remarks by Rep. Espaillat as prepared for delivery.\n\n\"Madame Speaker,\n\nToday I rise to honor the life and legacy of the indelible Reverend Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III.\n\nThe pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church for 50 years, Reverend Butts understood that his role as a leader went beyond the faith community.\n\nWitnessing the racial strife of the late 1960s, Reverend Butts became an ardent protector of the Harlem community, particularly the Black community, and often pushed for projects and policies that would increase access to necessities like housing and education.\n\nReverend Butts led projects that included raising and investing one billion dollars in housing and commercial development in Harlem through the Abyssinian Development Corporation and creating the Thurgood Marshall Academy for Learning and Social Change.\n\nReverend Butts preached a message of faith and education, and he motivated each of us through his teachings to be an active and exemplary member of Harlem, uplifting communities while giving back through service, engagement, and social reform.\n\nA dear friend and icon of Harlem, may he rest in peace and may his legacy be cherished and never forgotten.\n\nThank you and I yield back.\"\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://velazquez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/vel-zquez-introduces-bill-create-government-wide-task-force-fight-child", "Vel\u00e1zquez Introduces Bill to Create Government-Wide Task Force to Fight Child Poverty", "2022-11-16", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez", "V000081", "velazquez.house.gov", "velazquez", "https://velazquez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Today, Rep. Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez (D-NY) introduced the Lifting American Children from Poverty Act of 2022, legislation to address the crisis that has left one in every seven children in the United States living in poverty. The bill recognizes the need for the full scale of the federal government to collaborate across agencies to find solutions to end child poverty and creates an interagency task force on child and family economic security.\n\n\"The reality that millions of children wake up each day without enough food to eat or a safe place to sleep is completely at odds with the promise and ideals of America,\" said Vel\u00e1zquez. \"During the pandemic, Democrats passed an extended Child Tax Credit which made some of the largest gains in recent history to fight child poverty, until it expired last year. In addition to bringing back the child tax credit, more must be done to ensure children can access opportunity and reach their full potential. This legislation creates an approach that matches the scope of the problem by calling on federal agencies to prioritize ending child poverty once-and-for-all.\"\n\n\"That any child lives in poverty in the richest country in the world is deeply shameful,\" said Jennifer Vallone, Associate Executive Director, University Settlement. \"Every day, our programs partner with families across Lower Manhattan and in Brooklyn who are raising children while navigating the pressures of poverty. In 2021, the Child Tax Credit reduced child poverty by half, demonstrating that the federal government can succeed when it does more to support families. University Settlement calls on Congress to pass the Lifting American Children from Poverty Act of 2022 - a first step toward doing better for our community's children and families.\"\n\nA copy of the bill is online here.\n\nThe bill's cosponsors include Representatives: Dwight Evans (D-PA), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Judy Chu (D-CA), Jes\u00fas \"Chuy\" Garc\u00eda (D-IL), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ). It has also been endorsed by Oxfam America.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3738", "1 Year After Signing of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Tonko Highlights Major Wins for NY-20", "2022-11-15", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Paul Tonko", "T000469", "tonko.house.gov", "tonko", "https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014On the one year anniversary of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Congressman Paul D. Tonko cheered the transformational investments the legislation has delivered to the Capital Region.\n\n\u201cOne year ago today, I stood alongside my colleagues at the White House as President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law\u201d Congressman Tonko said. \u201cThis meaningful legislation tackled some of our nation\u2019s most pressing infrastructure needs\u2014devoting significant funding to fix our roads and bridges, upgrade transit systems and pedestrian infrastructure, expand broadband access, build out electric vehicle charging stations, and finally remove lead pipes that poison our children. Today, that investment is making a positive difference in the daily lives of those I serve in the Capital Region and across the nation.\u201d\n\nTonko continued, \u201cI was also deeply moved to finally see our limo safety package signed into law as part of this monumental legislation. For years, I pushed for these national safety measures alongside the families of those lost in the devastating Schoharie limo crash. Thanks to the relentless dedication and courage of those families, our lifesaving package was made law.\u201d\n\nAlong with implementing lifesaving limo provisions, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has invested boldly in EV infrastructure and fostering a clean energy transition, ensuring clean drinking water for every child, delivering affordable, reliable internet to underserved communities, and so much more.\n\nBIL investments have already arrived in the Capital Region, including:\n\n$25.4 million to the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) to expand its fleet of electric buses and develop its charging infrastructure\n\n$69.6 million to New York from EPA\u2019s Clean School Bus Program, including $305,000 to purchase an electric school bus for Duanesburg Central School District\n\n$2,925,000 to the City of Mechanicville in financial assistance for water infrastructure improvement projects and $616,492 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund grant to connect the city to the Saratoga County Water Authority system\n\n$5,568,2445 for Albany International Airport\n\n$427 million to repair and replace New York\u2019s water infrastructure\n\nNearly $409 million to repair New York bridges\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 851, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"party\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Democrat", "p1": "NY", "p2": "2022"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=NY&year=2022", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 851, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=NY&year=2022", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=NY&year=2022", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 590, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=NY&year=2022&chamber=House", "selected": false}, {"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 261, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=NY&year=2022&chamber=Senate", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=NY&year=2022", "results": [{"value": "NY", "label": "NY", "count": 851, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2022", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=NY&year=2022", "results": [{"value": "2022", "label": "2022", "count": 851, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=NY", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2022-11-15,https~3A~2F~2Ftonko~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fdocumentsingle~2Easpx~3FDocumentID~3D3738", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=NY&year=2022&_next=2022-11-15%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Ftonko~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fdocumentsingle~2Easpx~3FDocumentID~3D3738&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 529.516245238483, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}